Ratinho Jr. gives up running for President in 2026 and says he will serve a term in PR

The governor of Paraná, Ratinho Junior (PSD), announced that he has given up his pre-candidacy for the Presidency of the Republic in 2026 and that he intends to fully fulfill his mandate in the state, until December of this year. The decision was informed this Monday (23) in a statement released by the government’s press office.

According to the text, the choice was made on Sunday night (22) “after deep reflection with the family” and communicated to the national president of the PSD, Gilberto Kassab.

With Ratinho Junior’s departure from the race, the names of Eduardo Leite, governor of Rio Grande do Sul, and Ronaldo Caiado, governor of Goiás, gain strength within the PSD as possible candidates for the Palácio do Planalto.

In the note, the man from Paraná states that he is “convinced” that he must maintain the commitment made with voters in the 2018 elections and not “interrupt the project” which, according to him, has guaranteed a cycle of economic growth in the state.

Ratinho Junior also states that he will continue to be available to the PSD to help the country “turn the page on backwardness”, defending less bureaucracy, toughening criminal laws and agribusiness as an asset in global competition.

In the end, Ratinho Junior indicates that, after the end of his term, he intends to leave politics and return to the private sector: “When this phase of his life ends in December, Ratinho Júnior intends to return to the private sector and preside over the Communication Group created by his father, the presenter Ratinho.”

Read the note in full:

“Governor Ratinho Junior decided to complete his mandate in Paraná by December this year. Therefore, he will no longer participate in the internal discussion of the PSD (Social Democratic Party), which will choose a candidate willing to run in this year’s presidential elections. The decision was taken on the night of this Sunday, 22nd, after deep reflection with his family. The fact was brought to the attention of the national president of the PSD, Gilberto Kassab, this Monday, 23rd.

Ratinho is convinced that he must maintain his commitment to the people of Paraná in the 2018 elections and cannot interrupt the project that has guaranteed Paraná’s economic growth cycle.

Under the management of Ratinho Junior, who achieved 85% approval, the State consolidated itself as the best education in Brazil, obtained the lowest crime rates in the last 20 years, the largest investment in infrastructure in history, and achieved, four consecutive times, excellence in sustainability in Brazil.

The governor of Paraná will continue to be at the disposal of the PSD to help Brazil turn the page on its backwardness, create more optimistic perspectives for young people, be unlocked with less bureaucracy, tighten criminal laws and have Brazilian agribusiness as an asset in the global competition between nations.

Elected with almost 70% of the valid votes in 2022, Ratinho will continue to focus his life on helping Brazil from Paraná, by defending a smaller and more efficient state, which uses education as an instrument to improve the lives of young people and betting on pacification and dialogue as the foundations of the Democratic Rule of Law.

Carlos Massa Ratinho Júnior was born into a humble family in Jandaia do Sul. He moved to Curitiba as a child, where his father arrived unemployed in the 80s. The governor’s simple trajectory allowed him to never be contaminated by the blessings of Power.

When this phase of his life ends in December, Ratinho Júnior intends to return to the private sector and preside over the Communication Group created by his father, the presenter Ratinho.”*