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🇧🇷 Brazil /Elections & Politics

Lula backs PT's own candidate for Minas Gerais governor, pressures ex-mayor

From Folha de S.Paulo · () Portuguese

Translated from Portuguese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva favors the Workers' Party fielding its own candidate for governor in Minas Gerais.
  • This move increases pressure on former Contagem mayor Marília Campos, who prefers a Senate run but is the party's top choice for governor.
  • The party leadership is discussing the candidate, with a formal decision expected soon.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has signaled his preference for the Workers' Party (PT) to nominate its own candidate for governor in Minas Gerais, a state crucial to his re-election prospects. This directive intensifies pressure on Marília Campos, the former mayor of Contagem, who has expressed a desire to run for the Senate.

The understanding built collectively reaffirms a resolution decided a month ago that the Workers' Party will present its own candidacy in Minas Gerais.

— LeninhaThe president of the PT of Minas Gerais, state deputy Leninha, commented on the party's decision to field its own candidate for governor.

Lula reportedly discussed Campos's potential candidacy during a meeting with PT members from Minas Gerais. While he has privately shown a desire to see her run for governor, Campos has resisted the idea. However, PT leaders believe it will be difficult for her to refuse a direct request from Lula.

Leninha, the state president of the PT and a state deputy, confirmed Lula's support for a party-backed gubernatorial candidate. She stated that discussions regarding the project would continue in the coming days, involving dialogue with political forces committed to a democratic and popular agenda for the state. The specific candidate, however, remains undecided.

The definitions about this project will be built in the coming days, based on dialogue between the party and political forces committed to a democratic and popular project for the state.

— LeninhaLeninha explained the next steps following President Lula's indication of support for a party candidate.

This situation follows recent statements from PT Chairman Edinho Silva, who had indicated that Campos was set to run for the Senate. "Marília is a candidate for the Senate. This is defined, and we are very confident that she will be a senator of the Republic in 2027," Silva had said.

Marília is a candidate for the Senate. This is defined, and we are very confident that she will be a senator of the Republic in 2027.

— Edinho SilvaThe president of the PT, Edinho Silva, had previously stated his conviction about Marília Campos's Senate candidacy.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Folha de S.Paulo in Portuguese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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