Junior Ratinho’s draw with Lula in research anima kassab project to presidency

About a year and a half of the 2026 elections, the governor of Paraná, Ratinho Júnior (PSD), appeared tied with President Lula in one of the second round simulations of the Quaest survey, released on the 5th. The result cheered up the party’s national president, Gilberto Kassab, who has reinforced the idea of ​​launching his own candidacy, if the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas) to the Planalto Palace. Paraná is seen as the first in line in the party, with the gaucho governor, Eduardo Leite, putting himself as an alternative.

Its destiny is, in a way, linked to that of the governor of São Paulo. Kassab is a secretary of government of Tarcisio and has already expressed his intention to support him in the presidential contract. Under these conditions, Mouse allies say he would agree to be vice in the plate. The same survey also shows Jair Bolsonaro – which is ineligible – Tarcisio, Leite and Michelle Bolsonaro in situations of technical tie with Lula. Voters who declare themselves pockets prefer the former first lady as a candidate in the absence of her husband, while those who declare themselves to the right, but without being supporter of the former president, bet on Tarcisio.

Allies of the governor of Paraná do not rule out a possible support from Bolsonaro, due to the friendship of the former president with the presenter Ratinho, father of the politician. Bolsonaro also made several visits to Paraná and funded strategic works through state -owned Itaipu when he was in the Planalto Palace.

Read more: Most supports the end of reelection, but rejects a 5 -year term, says Quaest

Regional interests

In early April, the former president met for three hours with Ratinho Jr. Federal Deputy Filipe Barros (PL-PR), present at the meeting, says that the governor closed regional agreement with PL to 2026. The idea is that Bolsonaro will preference for one of the two vacancies to the Senate, and Ratinho Jr, for another. The chairs in dispute are occupied today by Oriovisto Guimarães (PSDB) and Flávio Arns (PSB).

As for the succession in Paraná, Mouse Junior himself needs to define who his political heir would be. Rafael Greca, elected three times mayor of Curitiba, is the best known, but is not well regarded by Bolsonaro’s surroundings for the cordial posture adopted with political disaffected. Currently he is a state secretary for sustainable development.

In a recent interview, Ratinho Júnior listed possible candidates, as well as Greca, the secretary of cities, Guto Silva, the president of the Legislative Assembly, Alexandre Curi, the Secretary of Infrastructure, Sandro Alex, and the deputy governor, Darci Piana, all from the PSD.

The main electoral threat is Senator Sergio Moro (Union), former Lava-Jato judge in Curitiba. In the government, it is admitted that it is a “very strong candidate”, with popular appeal, but the assessment is that it does not have a structure inside and faces divisions within his party. It also depends on conversations with the PP, with whom União Brasil forwards a “superfederation”.

In addition to him, the main governor Beto Richa (PSDB), federal deputies Zeca Dirceu (PT) and Pedro Lupion (PP) and state deputy Requião Filho (PDT) can rival their main positions.