Pablo Marçal confirms that he intends to run for President in 2026: “I will be a candidate”

The entrepreneur and influencer Pablo Marçal (PRTB) announced what everyone in the political world already knew: he intends to run for President of the Republic in the 2026 elections.

The statement was released to the press through a note from Marçal’s office.

“I will be a candidate for president for PRTB in 2026. Entrepreneurship is the key to freeing our people and promoting economic development”, said the influencer, who was placed third in the race for mayor of São Paulo, in October last year.

Still according to Marçal’s advisors, the idea is for the PRTB to change its name and be called “Brazilian”.

Obstacles in Electoral Justice

To achieve the objective of disputing the succession of the president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) in 2026 – the PT member will be able to run for re-election – Marçal will need to overcome some obstacles in the Electoral Court.

He is the target of some actions that, in the end, could result in eventual ineligibility.

Marçal will have to answer for “cuts” of videos released on social media and alleged irregularities in fundraising, sales of support and even for his participation in the event on September 7 last year. The businessman denies any violation of electoral law.

One of the cases targeting Marçal, which dealt with alleged illegalities in discounts offered on the businessman’s courses, has already been archived. There are, however, other actions underway and pending analysis by the Electoral Court.

In the final stretch of the first round of municipal elections, Marçal released a false medical report involving the then PSOL candidate for mayor of São Paulo, Guilherme Boulos (PSOL)associating the opponent with drug consumption. The influencer was indicted by the Federal Police (PF) for the episode.

Election in São Paulo

In the first round of the election in São Paulo, in October 2024, Marçal was in third place, with 28.14% of valid votes (more than 1.7 million votes). He was behind Ricardo Nunes, from MDB (29.48%), and Guilherme Boulos, from PSOL (29.07%). In the second round, Nunes was elected with more than 59% of the valid votes.

Expedition in the heights

Born in Goiânia (GO), on April 18, 1987, Pablo Henrique Costa Marçal gained national prominence, catapulted by the power of social networks, selling personal development courses – acting as a “coach”.

Marçal became even better known in 2022, when he was the protagonist of an “expedition” to Pico dos Marins, in Serra da Mantiqueira (SP) – more than 2,400 meters above sea level –, which ended with the help of the Fire Department due to the risk to more than 30 people participating in the trail. Everyone was rescued.

Pre-candidate for president in 2022

In 2022, the businessman launched his pre-candidacy for the Presidency of the Republic through PROS and even had his name tested in voting intention surveys, surprising analysts, candidates and political parties.

Internal differences involving PROS leaders, however, wrecked Marçal’s attempt to run for Planalto. The party decided to support Lula’s candidacy and, contrary to his own party, the coach declared that he would vote for the then president Jair Bolsonaro (PL)candidate for re-election.

Still in 2022, after being blocked from running for President, Pablo Marçal went to “plan B” and tried to run for a seat in the Chamber of Deputies, for the state of São Paulo. He obtained 243 thousand votes, finishing among the 20 best placed. He won, but he didn’t take it.

On October 30, 2022, Marçal had his candidacy challenged by the then minister of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) Ricardo Lewandowski (today Minister of Justice and Public Security in the Lula government).

The previous month, Marçal had already had his candidacy registration request rejected by the Regional Electoral Court of São Paulo (TRE-SP) due to lack of documents, but he was able to compete sub judice. The TSE’s final decision, however, buried, once again, the coach’s dream of being elected to a political position.

In the 2022 elections, Marçal declared that he had assets of R$16.9 million. Subsequently, the value was updated to R$96.2 million.

Accusations

Pablo Marçal’s name was also involved in accusations and investigations.

In 2010, the businessman was identified as an alleged participant in a group that had embezzled money from banks in mid-2005 – at the time, he was 18 years old.

The group created fake websites for financial institutions, such as Caixa Econômica Federal and Banco do Brasil, and sent emails falsely accusing people of default. Criminals stole data and information from victims and also “infected” computers and digital devices with programs known as “Trojan horses”.

Marçal acknowledged that he collaborated with the group, but always assured that he was not aware of any illegality committed. He was convicted, but the sentence was revoked in 2018, due to retroactive prescription.

In 2023, Marçal was the target of a PF operation that investigated electoral and ideological falsehood crimes, money laundering and misappropriation of resources.

At the time, the influencer stated that “no illegal acts were committed and not a cent of public money was used in electoral campaigns”. According to him, his pre-campaign expenses were paid with his own resources or by donations. The businessman, at the time, said he was the target of “political persecution”.