Lula meets with Pacheco to discuss candidacy in Minas, but senator resists
In a new attempt to convince senator Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG) to run for government of Minas, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met with the parliamentarian on Wednesday, in an off-the-schedule meeting. According to reports made by people familiar with the conversation, Pacheco reiterated to Lula that he has no intention of running for office this year, signaling resistance to entering the state dispute.
The definition of Pacheco as a candidate in Minas is one of the factors that, in the assessment of Lula’s allies, could help unlock the approval of the Union’s attorney general, Jorge Messias, for a vacancy on the Federal Supreme Court (STF). The parliamentarian was the preferred name in the Senate for the Court, but he was passed over for the vacancy, which caused resistance to the head of the AGU among the senators.
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Government members estimate that, if he decides to run in Minas, Messias’ situation would improve, as it would indicate an agreement between Lula and the former president of the Senate.
Opportunity with security!
Despite the position expressed by Pacheco to Lula, government interlocutors state that the matter is not considered closed. According to an ally of the senator, there “does not seem” to be a definitive definition, keeping open the possibility of resuming talks in the coming months.
Behind the scenes, Lula has reiterated the assessment that Pacheco is today the most competitive alternative in the government field in Minas, a state seen as strategic for the construction of the 2026 presidential platform. The president has also indicated his willingness to help the senator in overcoming party obstacles and in assembling a political base that will enable him to run for office, should he decide to enter the race.
Pacheco, in turn, has highlighted the need to resolve party uncertainties and assess the appropriate moment before any electoral decision. The caution is shared by allies, who see the process as still maturing and dependent on national and local articulations.
The meeting takes place amid the intensification of pre-election movements and reinforces the weight of Minas Gerais in the strategy of the main political forces. With a large electorate and a history of balance between different camps, the state is treated by government officials as a central piece for the presidential dispute and for the formation of alliances in 2026.
