Romeu Zema launches 2026 presidential campaign for Novo

Romeu Zema, the former governor of Minas Gerais, has officially launched his 2026 presidential campaign representing the Novo party. Running alongside vice-presidential candidate Eduardo Girão, Zema’s platform emphasizes economic liberalism, fiscal responsibility, and reducing bureaucracy.

During his campaign launch, Zema proposed several controversial policies. He pledged to ban online betting platforms as his first act in office, describing them as a “plague” and a “cancer” comparable to chemical dependency. In terms of public security, he promised to build a maximum-security prison in northern Brazil for criminal leaders and advocated for reducing the age of criminal responsibility.

Zema also drew criticism for remarks regarding social programs, labeling beneficiaries a “generation of useless people” who refuse to work. He proposed that social assistance should be tied to employment, suggesting that payments be suspended for those who refuse three job offers. Additionally, his campaign has faced scrutiny for using party funds totaling approximately R$ 1.7 million, a shift from his previous stance against the use of public party funds.