Romeu Zema promises Petrobras, Banco do Brasil privatizations and seeks clean‑record vice for 2026 presidential run

Romeu Zema, former governor of Minas Gerais and pre‑candidate of the Novo party for Brazil’s 2026 presidential election, used the party’s 10th National Meeting in São Paulo to unveil his core platform. He announced that, if elected, he will privatize Petrobras and the Banco do Brasil, directing the proceeds to large‑scale infrastructure projects such as roads, railways, waterways and ports. Zema framed the move as a way to cut public spending, reduce debt and lower interest rates.

He also outlined a security plan that calls for the use of the Armed Forces against organized crime, classification of criminal factions as terrorist groups and the imposition of a minimum 25‑year prison term for related offenses. Politically, Zema pledged support to the incumbent Minas governor Mateus Simões and asserted that the state’s 2026 race will be limited to right‑wing and centre‑right candidates, describing the PT as “buried”.

In addition, Zema said the Novo will look for a vice‑presidential running‑mate with a “clean record”, confirming negotiations with the Podemos party and setting a deadline of 5 August for a decision, ahead of the party convention on 27 July. He also voiced support for Ricardo Salles’s Senate bid in São Paulo, and called for an impeachment of STF minister Alexandre de Moraes and reforms to end “supersalaries”, the privileged forum and monocratic rulings.