the person you turn to when doubt creeps in, when problems arise
Tarcísio predicts an 'excellent result' for the right in October municipal elections, positioning them as groundwork for 2026 presidential race. The governor, a potential 2026 presidential candidate himself, emphasized Bolsonaro's central leadership and called for party unity and grassroots mobilization.
- October 2024 municipal elections positioned as groundwork for 2026 presidential race
- Tarcísio de Freitas, São Paulo governor, speaking at Conservative Political Action Conference in Balneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina
- Bolsonaro, Michelle Bolsonaro, and Santa Catarina governor Jorginho Mello present on stage
- Argentine president Javier Milei arriving to address the same conference
São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas expressed confidence in right-wing electoral success, emphasizing Bolsonaro's continued leadership role and calling for unified mobilization ahead of 2026 presidential elections.
São Paulo's governor stood before a crowd of conservative activists on a Saturday in July, speaking with the confidence of a man who believes his side is positioned to win. Tarcísio de Freitas, a member of the Republicanos party, told the audience at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference that the right would achieve an "excellent result" in October's municipal elections—but his real message pointed further ahead, to 2026 and the presidential race that will reshape Brazilian politics.
The conference, held at a convention center in the beach town of Balneário Camboriú in Santa Catarina, had drawn the party's heavyweights. Jair Bolsonaro sat on stage beside him, along with his wife Michelle and Santa Catarina's governor Jorginho Mello. The presence of these figures was itself a statement: this was the right's leadership apparatus on display, unified and ready to work.
Tarcísio's pitch to the crowd was straightforward. The path forward existed, he said, and Bolsonaro had already shown what it looked like. What remained was for candidates and supporters to commit themselves fully, to stay together, to make the sacrifices the moment demanded. "There is much good that can happen," he told them. "I have faith that we will have an excellent result this year." But he was careful to frame October not as an end in itself but as the beginning of something larger—the construction of what 2026 would become.
The governor, himself mentioned as a possible presidential contender from the right's ranks, made clear that Bolsonaro remained the center of gravity for the movement. He defended the achievements of Bolsonaro's administration and called on party activists to step forward in their own cities, to put their faces and their effort into the work ahead. This year, he said, was the year to make commitments, to take risks, to build the foundation for what comes next.
When Tarcísio spoke about Bolsonaro, his language revealed something about the former president's role in the coalition's thinking. Bolsonaro could say his life had not been lived in vain, Tarcísio suggested, but he still had much to contribute. The right was united, the governor insisted, and it had leadership—meaning Bolsonaro remained the figure people turned to when doubt crept in, when problems arose. The implication was clear: Bolsonaro was not stepping aside. He was the anchor, the voice of authority, the person whose blessing mattered.
The timing of these remarks was significant. Argentina's president Javier Milei was arriving that evening to address the same conference, bringing with him the energy of a right-wing leader who had recently won power in a major Latin American country. The gathering was meant to project strength and momentum, to show that conservative politics in the region was ascendant. For Tarcísio and the Brazilian right, the message was that October's municipal contests were not isolated events but chapters in a longer story—one that would culminate in 2026, when Brazilians would choose their next president.
Citações Notáveis
I have faith that we will have an excellent result this year. This year is when we begin to build what 2026 will be.— Tarcísio de Freitas
The right is united and has leadership. We expect much still from President Bolsonaro—he is the person we turn to when we have doubt, when we have problems.— Tarcísio de Freitas
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
Why does Tarcísio keep talking about 2026 when the elections are in October?
Because October is a test run. The municipal races are where you build the machinery, prove you can win, show momentum. But they're also a way to keep the base energized and organized for the real fight two years out.
And Bolsonaro—he's still the leader, even though he's not in office?
That's the bet. Tarcísio is saying Bolsonaro is the unifying figure, the person people look to when they're uncertain. Whether that holds up is another question, but right now, the right's strategy depends on him staying central.
Is Tarcísio positioning himself as Bolsonaro's successor, or as his lieutenant?
That's deliberately ambiguous. He's a potential candidate in 2026, but he's also emphasizing that Bolsonaro still has much to contribute. He's keeping his options open while staying loyal—a careful balance.
What does "give your face to the blow" mean in this context?
It's a call for grassroots work. Stop waiting for someone else to do it. Get out in your city, knock on doors, organize, take the political risk yourself. It's asking for sacrifice and visibility from party members.
Why invite Milei to speak at the same event?
It's about showing that the right is winning in the region. Milei just took power in Argentina on a libertarian, anti-establishment platform. Having him there suggests the right's moment is real, not just Brazilian wishful thinking.