A government advertising campaign Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) em São Paulo caused discomfort around the governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) and expanded the political dispute between the Union and the state for leadership in infrastructure works.
Named “São Paulo in Movement”, the action has as its motto the phrase “Government of Brazil alongside the people of São Paulo”. The pieces were distributed in strategic points, such as LED panels, banners, totems and signs in São Paulo Metro stations, as well as insertions in radios.
The campaign highlights projects financed or supported by the federal government in the state, including R$7.2 billion for the expansion of Line 2-Green between Vila Prudente, Penha and Guarulhos, the Santos-Guarujá Tunnel and the Intercidades Train between São Paulo and Campinas.
On social media, both from the São Paulo government and the federal government, there are also publications highlighting the work in these projects.
Political clash
According to an investigation by the CNN Brazilthe strategy of Planalto Palace seeks to reinforce the presence of the federal government in São Paulo, reduce resistance to PT (Workers’ Party) and contain wear on the largest electoral college in the country.
Behind the scenes, Tarcísio’s allies reacted to the initiative. A São Paulo government source classified as “outrageous” what he called the “disproportionate use of the federal public machine” in São Paulo, especially in an election year.
The movement occurs amid the pre-election scenario of 2026. In the government camp, the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad (PT), is the pre-candidate designated by Lula to compete for the Bandeirantes Palace. Tarcísio puts himself as .
The offensive also deepens the dispute between the federal and state governments in São Paulo.
Recently, Lula demanded that Tarcísio recognize federal financing for works in SP. “After you tell the truth, you can scold me,” declared the PT member during an event in Araraquara.
Tarcísio replied that he is “used to Lula’s nonsense”, and that the loans, if they were not from banks linked to the federal government, could come from other sources, minimizing the importance of the Lula government’s actions.
