Geraldo Alckmin confirmed in presidential ticket with Lula

The Brazilian Socialist Party (PSB) approved on Friday (Jul. 29) the coalition with the Workers´ Party (PT) in this year’s elections. At the party convention, held in Brasília, the name of Geraldo Alckmin as a vice presidential candidate was approved, on the ticket with Lula (PT). Alckmin joined the PSB in March this year, in the midst of advanced negotiations with Lula to compose the ticket. Last week, PT made the ticket at its party convention official.

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In past elections Alckmin was Lula´s political opponent. Now he joins PT on a ticket that was considered to be unlikely a few years ago. In his speech at the PSB convention, the former governor of São Paulo strongly criticized Brazil´s current government and stated that Lula’s future administration will be different. “Brazil will have a new command, Brazil will have a new government. And, unlike the current one, Lula`s government will bring responsibility, planning, and predictability. It will bring back confidence and security. It is the hope that comes true, it is the reality that approaches a future that is tired of waiting.”

Lula participated in the convention and praised his vice president on the ticket. “Alckmin’s experience and my experience will lead to the most important peaceful revolution in this country. First, because we know everything about the system. Second, because we know how the tangle of bureaucracy works.” Lula pleaded for the return of Brazil’s growth. “If this country grows again, it will generate employment, the GDP [Gross Domestic Product] will grow, and we will distribute income because the poor people need to have an opportunity in this country.”

Profiles

Geraldo Alckmin was born in Pindamonhangaba, São Paulo state. The 68-year-old candidate is a doctor and professor. Alckmin was one of the founders of the Social Democratic Party (PSD). From 2001 to 2006, and from 2011 to 2018 he was São Paulo`s governor, actually the longest period as a governor in this state since Brazil’s re-democratization. He is currently a university medical professor at Universidade Nove de Julho and a member of the São Paulo Academy of Medicine.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was born in Garanhuns, Pernambuco state. The 76-year-old politician began his political career as a trade unionist in 1966. He was Brazil´s President for two terms starting in 2003, after being elected in 2002, in the second round of the elections having José Serra as his opponent. In 2006, Lula defeated Alckmin and was re-elected to the post. The first time he ran for president was in 1989, when he was defeated by Fernando Collor de Melo. Before being elected, he tried two more times, in 1994 and 1998, when he lost to Fernando Henrique Cardoso in both elections.

In 2017, the former president was sentenced to nine years and six months in prison for corruption and money laundering. In 2018, he was arrested due to a judgment delivered by the then judge Sergio Moro. In 2021, the Minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) Edson Fachin canceled the convictions, based on the understanding that the 13th Federal Court in Curitiba did not have the legal competence to judge the charges, making Lula eligible. In the same year, the plenary of the Supreme Court confirmed the decision.