Rafael Greca announced pre‑candidacy for Paraná governor; MDB lets states pick presidential allies

On 20 June 2026 in Curitiba, the Movimento Democrático Brasileiro (MDB) formally announced former Curitiba mayor Rafael Greca’s pre‑candidacy for the governorship of Paraná. The event was attended by MDB national president Baleia Rossi, state president and federal deputy Sérgio Souza, former senator Álvaro Dias, former governor Orlando Pessuti and numerous state lawmakers.

At the same meeting Rossi declared that MDB will not bind its state branches to a single presidential ticket in the 2026 election, allowing each state to support either Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) or Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) according to local political dynamics. The party’s new rule gives Greca freedom to run for governor without committing to a national presidential alliance, reflecting MDB’s strategy of regional flexibility while preserving its own candidates and coalition options across Brazil.