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Minas Gerais gubernatorial election debt debates

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2026-08-18 09:42 UTC → 2026-08-18 17:02 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The 2026 Minas Gerais gubernatorial campaign has officially launched with the first televised debate, centering on the state’s massive public debt and fiscal management. Candidates clashed over the State Debt Full Payment Program (Propag). Alexandre Kalil criticized the federal renegotiation agreement as an ‘aggression’ that could result in a R$ 165 billion fiscal impact, claiming it makes the state ‘ungovernable.’ Cleitinho Azevedo defended his Senate vote for the program as a ‘necessary evil,’ comparing the measure to chemotherapy. Incumbent Mateus Simões defended his administration’s management, stating that debt payments are being made within available cash flow. Economic discussions have expanded to include tax reforms and privatization. Cleitinho Azevedo noted that the state provides nearly R$ 26 billion in exemptions and called for stricter enforcement against tax evasion. He also proposed reducing the IPVA tax rate from 4% to 3% and ending vehicle seizures for unpaid IPVA. Other topics included the potential privatization of Cemig, mining regulations, and the balance between economic development and environmental protection in areas like Serra do Curral. The debate was marked by high tension. Gabriel Azevedo accused Alexandre Kalil of threatening him with a punch, an incident that led the broadcaster to cut their microphones. Additionally, Patrus Ananias was absent from the debate, citing a campaign commitment with President Lula in São Paulo. As the election progresses, political alliances are shifting. Flávio Bolsonaro expressed support for Cleitinho Azevedo for the presidency while reaffirming Flávio Roscoe as the PL party's candidate for the Minas Gerais governorship. This development follows a breakdown in previous agreements between the PL and Cleitinho's party.

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