Ronaldo Caiado Launches Presidential Campaign Amid Absence of Vice Candidate Gilberto Kassab

Ronaldo Caiado, the PSD candidate for president, launched his electoral campaign with a motorcade through six cities in the state of Goiás, including Águas Lindas de Goiás and Luziânia. The event was marked by the absence of his running mate, PSD president Gilberto Kassab. Caiado minimized the absence, stating that Kassab was in São Paulo coordinating the party's state launches. The absence follows recent comments by Kassab suggesting that the Centrão parties are aligned with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and that Flávio Bolsonaro has zero chance of winning. Caiado described these comments as misinterpreted and reaffirmed that he is the only candidate capable of defeating Lula in a second round. He further criticized Flávio Bolsonaro, claiming the senator lacks the moral authority to face Lula due to various accusations. Regarding international relations, Caiado asserted that the United States does not rule Brazil and promised to negotiate tariffs with the White House to pacify relations if elected. He also challenged President Lula to participate in debates, claiming the president is avoiding them because he cannot explain the country's debt. According to a Genial/Quaest poll from August 14, Caiado holds 4 percent of voting intentions, trailing Lula at 38 percent and Flávio Bolsonaro at 31 percent.