São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas Discusses Political Reform and Future Ambitions

São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas stated that political parties within the centrão are maintaining neutrality in the presidential race to prioritize the growth of their legislative benches based on local regional realities. Speaking during a session organized by O Globo, CBN, and Valor Econômico, the governor explained that the electoral strength of the PT and President Lula in the North and Northeast, compared to the advantage of supporting Flávio Bolsonaro in the Southeast, drives this strategic neutrality. This approach is being adopted by parties including the MDB, Podemos, União Brasil, PP, and Republicanos.

Governor de Freitas advocated for political reform to address a perceived loss of consensus building in Brazil. He suggested the implementation of district voting to improve representation and called for the end of re-election, arguing that the desire for a second term can discourage leaders from taking necessary but unpopular actions. He noted that Flávio Bolsonaro has already filed a constitutional amendment proposal to end re-election.

In a separate interview with Jovem Pan, the governor responded with maybe when asked if he would run for the presidency in 2030. During that discussion, he expressed support for expanding civic military schools, building more prisons, granting amnesty to those involved in the January 8 events, and opposing the regulation of social media. Regarding infrastructure, he stated he does not intend to pursue further privatizations of Metro and CPTM lines to avoid concentrating too many branches under a few private operators, though he continues to defend the privatization of Sabesp.

Addressing public safety, the governor acknowledged high police lethality rates in São Paulo and stated he does not want people dying. He defended the current protocols for body cameras, noting that technical issues such as battery failure or voluntary disconnection often limit their use in investigations.