Tarcísio reaffirms support for Bolsonaro and predicts a challenging scenario for Lula

The governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas (Republicans), criticized President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) for not “delivering what Brazil expected” and not “taking advantage of the windows of opportunity” open to the country with the redivision of global production chains. In an interview with Veja published this weekend, he also pointed out that these and other mistakes by the government “stuck in the past” favor the influence of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) in the political game.

Despite being undergoing consecutive surgeries to treat kidney stones, Bolsonaro’s former minister maintains a work routine and does not neglect the political agenda. Freitas even informs that he will receive the former president in Ribeirão Preto (SP), during an event in early May. Embracing the Bolsonarist label, he took advantage of the interview to highlight his friendship and gratitude towards the former president, in addition to defending the achievements of his management. “I am liberal, I believe in the pursuit of private initiative”, he underlined.

Freitas credited his electoral success to the former president, who bet on the name of a technician as a candidate for the Palácio dos Bandeirantes in the last elections, and says he trusts his prominent role as leader of the right. “All the presidents who left power had a period of reflection and silence. But Bolsonaro’s figure is very strong, ”he noted. And as for the risk of Bolsonaro becoming ineligible and nominating the governor to run for president, he said he trusts the judiciary and the captain’s proof of innocence.

Still on the electoral scenario for 2026, in which he is always seen as a potential right-wing candidate for Planalto, Freitas claims to be focused only on state management and that “a lot will consolidate in the long term”. But he added that Lula and her allies “have not yet shown what they came for”. For him, the PT failed to show society and investors “how he will seek development, the reduction of inequality, economic growth and the reduction of inflation”.

The governor also foresees difficulties for the government to approve measures of interest to him, especially proposals for amendments to the Constitution and other structural ones, in the face of a “more autonomous” Congress that “has conquered its space”. “They reissued old programs and distributed 37 ministries without managing to form a strong base in Congress,” he noted.

Governor denies disappointing conservative public

The governor credits his high approval ratings after 100 days in office to his 3D trinomial, development, dignity and dialogue. “It brings hope in people of good conduct, regardless of party, ideological line,” he said.

He assessed that actions such as the free distribution of cannabidiol, also known as medical marijuana, did not affect his relationship with the conservative public that elected him. For him, it is clear that the measure benefits people with multiple sclerosis, among other cases, and “nothing to do” with the issue of drugs. He recalled that he remained consistent, for example, in defending the non-mandatory vaccine.

By defending privatization as his strategy to seek efficiency in public services and attract investment, he once again bet on the sale of the Port of Santos as a redemptive project. “The federal government excluded some companies from the concessions and privatizations program, and the Port of Santos is not on the list. I interpret that the door is still open,” he said.

For him, the greatest resistance at the federal level is not in Lula, but in the Minister of Ports and Airports, Márcio França (PSB). Freitas also hopes that Sabesp’s privatization will help mobilize a lot of capital in a short time, taking sanitation where it hasn’t reached yet.

Regarding the growing concern with safety, especially in schools, the governor declared that he was dealing with the issue in a structural way. “We are going to take care of mental health, hiring psychologists to assist students and education professionals. We will also hire private security, with unarmed guards. The school has to be a place of joy, of child noise. It will not be a place of fear, with a metal detector, no. But it will have more security ”, he detailed.