Romeu Zema outlines economic reforms and meets business leaders ahead of 2026 presidential bid

Former Minas Gerais governor and Novo pre‑candidate for the 2026 Brazilian presidency, Romeu Zema, visited Guarulhos on June 15, holding a press conference with local entrepreneurs. He highlighted his administration’s record – claiming one million jobs created in Minas Gerais – and stressed that voters are currently more concerned with personal finances than politics. Zema said he will travel across Brazil to present his proposals and differentiate his candidacy.

In an interview and in a recent article, Zema outlined a set of economic reforms: reducing the number of ministries to about 20, privatizing state-owned enterprises, expanding the Simples Nacional tax regime, cutting corporate tax rates, and expanding concessions and public‑private partnerships. He argued that Brazil’s productive sector is competitive but hampered by excessive bureaucracy, high tax burdens and an oversized state, estimating the “cost of Brazil” at R$1.7 trillion annually. Zema pledged to focus government action on essential services such as security, health and education while giving entrepreneurs lower taxes and greater predictability.