Tarcísio, Zema and Ratinho Jr. discuss investments and infrastructure

The governors of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema (Novo), and of Paraná, Ratinho Junior (PSD), participated in the closing of the 24th Annual Conference of Santander, last Wednesday ( 23). Together, the governors spoke about investments and infrastructure.

In his speech, Tarcísio highlighted the public-private partnerships (PPP) in his government and the privatization of state-owned companies. As an example, the governor cited the plans for the privatization of the Basic Sanitation Company of the State of São Paulo (Sabesp) and the Metropolitan Water and Energy Company (EMAE).

“EMAE is a smaller business, but very interesting […] It is a privatization that we also want to do either at the end of this year or at the beginning of next year. It is already being structured, we are moving towards a total sale, a total exit from the company. And Sabesp, which is our big project. It will certainly be the biggest privatization in the country in the coming years. By the size of the company. We are talking about the largest sanitation company in Brazil”, said the governor.

For Tarcísio, the privatization of Sabesp will increase the company’s investment power and will help in the universalization of services, in addition to contributing to the reduction of tariffs.

Along the same lines as Tarcísio, the governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema, said he had similar plans in his state. Zema has already sent a proposal to the Legislative Assembly to change the Constitution of Minas Gerais in an attempt to end the need for approval in a referendum for the sale of Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais (Cemig) and Companhia de Saneamento de Minas Gerais (Copasa).

Zema’s idea is to privatize the two companies until the end of his term, which ends in 2026.

The governor of Paraná, Ratinho Júnior, said that he continues working to make it possible for private capital to enter Companhia Paranaense de Energia (Copel) and Companhia de Saneamento do Paraná (Sanepar).

The three governors are quoted by the opposition as the main names capable of facing the PT in the 2026 electoral race and, together, they lead the consortium of governors from the South and Southeast in an attempt to face the mobilization of governors from the Northeast, who have achieved more federal government resources compared to other regions of the country.