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Minas Gerais Governor prefers ally Zema out of presidential race
🇧🇷 Brazil /Elections & Politics

Minas Gerais Governor prefers ally Zema out of presidential race

From Estadão · () Portuguese

Translated from Portuguese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Minas Gerais Governor Mateus Simões prefers Romeu Zema not to run for president, believing it complicates his own re-election bid.
  • Simões stated he would not ask Zema to withdraw but suggested a Zema-Flávio Bolsonaro ticket would resolve the presidential race for Minas Gerais.
  • Zema has reaffirmed his presidential candidacy and alliance with Simões, despite Simões' expressed preference for a unified right-wing front.

Minas Gerais Governor Mateus Simões has indicated that he would prefer Romeu Zema, the state's former governor and current presidential hopeful, not to compete in the 2026 presidential election. Simões believes Zema's candidacy complicates his own bid for re-election as governor.

It would be much more convenient for me if Zema were not a candidate, or if he were a candidate for vice president under Flávio.

— Mateus SimõesThe Governor of Minas Gerais expressed his preference regarding Romeu Zema's presidential aspirations.

"It would be much more convenient for me if Zema were not a candidate, or if he were a candidate for vice president under Flávio," Simões stated in an interview with the newspaper "O Tempo." However, he quickly added that he would never ask Zema to abandon his presidential aspirations, emphasizing loyalty. "I would be subverting someone who was loyal to me. That is, I would be putting my interest ahead of the one who invited me to the government," Simões explained.

I would be subverting someone who was loyal to me. That is, I would be putting my interest ahead of the one who invited me to the government.

— Mateus SimõesSimões explained why he would not ask Zema to withdraw from the presidential race, despite his personal preference.

Simões, who assumed the governorship after Zema left to pursue the presidency, suggested that an ideal scenario for his campaign would involve Zema and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro forming a presidential ticket. "If he and Flávio formed a ticket, for Minas Gerais the election would be resolved. We wouldn't even have a second round," he asserted. Simões fears that the fragmentation of the right-wing vote nationally could harm his chances in Minas Gerais, arguing that those in power need unity.

If he and Flávio formed a ticket, for Minas Gerais the election would be resolved. We wouldn't even have a second round.

— Mateus SimõesSimões outlined his ideal scenario for the presidential election, believing a Zema-Bolsonaro ticket would ensure victory in Minas Gerais.

In response, Romeu Zema reaffirmed his presidential candidacy and his alliance with Governor Simões in a statement. Despite Simões' expressed desire for a unified front, Zema is actively campaigning. The political landscape sees Zema and Flávio Bolsonaro competing for the same right-wing electorate, alongside other candidates like Ronaldo Caiado and Renan Santos. Recent interactions suggest a potential rapprochement between Zema and Bolsonaro, following a period of public disagreements.

the right will be more united than ever.

— Romeu ZemaZema expressed optimism about the unity of the right-wing political movement.
DistantNews Editorial

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

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