Lula asks Haddad to run for governor of São Paulo this year, says newspaper
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva asked Finance Minister Fernando Haddad this Wednesday to run for governor of São Paulo in the October elections, reported the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo.
The newspaper reported that the request occurred during lunch of around three hours on Wednesday afternoon.
Haddad says he will leave the ministry in January and that his successor should take over now
According to Míriam Leitão’s report, the minister will still talk to the President of the Republic, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, about the date on which he will leave the Ministry
By running for governor of São Paulo, Haddad would establish a strong platform in the country’s largest electoral college for Lula, who will seek his fourth term. One of the arguments would be that PT would not have another competitive name for the São Paulo government dispute.
Also according to Estadão, Haddad would have said that he will leave the Ministry of Finance at the end of the month to take a ‘sabbatical’ period and evaluate his next steps.
Previously, Haddad had expressed his desire to coordinate Lula’s new government program and not run for any position in this year’s elections.
When contacted, Palácio do Planalto and the Ministry of Finance did not immediately provide comments.
A Treasury source confirmed, on condition of anonymity, that the lunch was held this Wednesday between Lula and Haddad at Granja do Torto and that the meeting was long, but said he was not aware of the matter discussed.
