Zema defends South and Southeast presidential candidate for 2026 – 7/3/2023 – Panel

The governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema (Novo), said this Monday (3) in Curitiba that he defends a name from the South or Southeast for the next dispute for the Planalto. According to him, these are regions that “represent a lot of the Brazilian economy” and that “need to have more political strength”.

“I’ve been saying that we governors of the South and Southeast have now worked together and represent more than 55% of Brazilians. And, if possible, we want to unite around one name [para as eleições de 2026]. Because the South and Southeast need and are in a position to carry out a good project in Brazil. We are the states that perhaps represent a Brazil that is developing more. We need to have more political strength,” Zema said.

The governor of Minas Gerais spoke to the press right after a lecture he gave to businessmen from Curitiba and supporters of the New Party, at the ACP (Commercial Association of Paraná). Afterwards, he would have a meeting with the governor of Paraná, Ratinho Junior (PSD).

Asked if he presents himself as a possibility for the future election, Zema said that he would prefer to support another candidate and that the right has “several options”, such as the governors of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), and of Paraná, Ratinho Junior (PSD), for example.

“I will contribute much more by supporting [um candidato] than properly being [um candidato]”, he said, considering that “2026 is too far away”. “And in politics we know that everything changes a lot. I say that politics is a current and, no matter how well you swim, you will depend on the current. It’s unpredictable,” he added.

Regarding the recent decision by the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) that made former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) ineligible, Zema said that he was sorry, but that “a judicial decision, I accept it, I do not argue, it is something to be obeyed”.

“Even without being able to be a candidate, he continues to be relevant. And his legacy is there. The country today needs a less burdensome state, one that hinders less those who want to work. Today we have a considerable part of the population and the political class that has this same vision”, said the governor.

On Zema’s agenda with Ratinho Junior is the tax reform proposal underway in the Federal Chamber. “Historically, we’ve been states where everyone has always looked out for themselves. But now we’re determined to work together. So much so that, tomorrow [terça-feira, 4]we 7 governors will be in Brasilia, with our federal benches, warning about some serious problems that the tax reform can bring to our states”, he anticipated.

Zema has said that a tax reform is fundamental, but that the proposal that is being designed in Brasília violates the federative pact. He believes that municipalities and states may lose revenue and autonomy. “I don’t want tomorrow, as governor of Minas, to have to go to Brasilia to plead for resources that today fall naturally into my cash”, he said.

The main point of criticism from the governor of Minas Gerais is related to the tax council, in which each Brazilian state has one vote. “South and Southeast states only have seven votes, in a council of 27, but we represent more than half of Brazilians. We don’t want to be harmed, with the approval of regulations that make our economies less competitive, that take away resources from us,” he said. Zema, for whom the number of inhabitants should be considered in defining the weight of each vote.

Another complaint is about regional development funds: “There are plans for funds for all regions, except for the Southeast and South. Here we have pockets of poverty. So it seems to me that there is discrimination between the South and Southeast”.

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