‘I do not intend to run for the position of governor,’ says Derrite, who seeks Senate by SP

São Paulo Secretary of Public Security, Guilherme Derrite, said in the afternoon of Monday, that he does not intend to run for the state governor in the 2026 elections. The focus, instead, should be in a seat in the Federal Senate by Progressives (PP).

“Literally it is not (in my radar). I do not intend to run for the position of governor of the State of São Paulo,” he said before an event organized by Sindhosp and FESAUDESP, union and federation, respectively, hospitals, clinics and laboratories of the state.

The secretary said he was “100% aligned” with Governor Tarcisio de Freitas (Republicans). “He is a candidate for reelection has said this a few times, and he is a candidate for reelection I am very happy and honored to have my name, especially nominated by him, to run for the Senate,” he said.

As showed the EstadãoDerrite is still in the Liberal Party (PL), but has already agreed to return to PP. The affiliation would be made official at an event last week, but was postponed next Thursday, 22, so that Tarcisio and all 49 federal deputies of the acronym to attend.

Former Mayor of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira (PP) will be present. Valdemar Costa Neto and Gilberto Kassab, PL and PSD presidents, respectively, were also invited.

“I am happy to have been remembered, and more than being remembered by the group of Governor Tarcisio de Freitas or even the president (Jair) Bolsonaro, as a postulant to one of the two vacancies of the Federal Senate,” said Derrite.

Party exchange took place with Bolsonaro’s endorsement

According to Derrite, so that the candidacy for the Senate would become viable, the understanding behind the scenes was that it would be better than him and federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL) to compete for different parties. The party change, he says, was sewn by Senator Ciro Nogueira, ahead of the PP.

“Senator Ciro came to talk to me and I said, ‘I see no problem,’ as long as President Bolsonaro and Governor Tarcisio de Freitas were agreed. And it was a friendly departure with the President (PL) Valdemar (Costa Neto),” he said.

Derrite stated that the negotiation worked. “My return to the Progressive Party is scheduled for Thursday, May 22, but with this goal: if next year, there is really the possibility of applying for the Federal Senate, which I may be fit,” he said. “Just being remembered by this right -wing group as a postulant to one of the vacancies I’m already happy.”

Tarcísio’s support weighs on the definition

Considered one of the main guarantors of Derrite’s candidacy, Tarcisio supported the secretary at the time of sharp crisis in the area of ​​public security. The governor maintained him in office at the end of last year after pressure to fired him amid a number of cases of violence and police abuse.

One of the justifications was the drop in crime rates: under Derrite, São Paulo registered in 2024 the lowest level of theft and homicides since the beginning of the historical series, in 2001. On the other hand, thefts grew in the state earlier this year and hit the record for the first quarter in São Paulo throughout the historical series, with 61,800 cases.

Already the deaths committed by military police grew 84.14% last year compared to 2023. With 34%, public safety is the area of ​​Tarcisio management that has the worst assessment among Paulistas, according to Genial/Quaest research published in February.

Derrying PP’s affiliation is treated as a return home. He joined politics when he was elected federal deputy for the party in 2018. Four years later, the caption decided to support then governor Rodrigo Garcia to governor, which led to derite to join the PL to support Tarcisio’s candidacy.