Mateus Simões Joins PSD, Complicating Lula’s 2026 Plans in Minas

Overview

• Simões formally left Novo and entered PSD on October 27 at a Belo Horizonte event with Gilberto Kassab and Governor Romeu Zema present.
• He cast the switch as a bid to continue Zema’s agenda and praised Kassab as a “maestro of national politics” during his speech.
• Analysts say the alignment strengthens Simões in 2026, constrains PSD senator Rodrigo Pacheco’s space, and complicates construction of a Lula-backed slate in the state.
• PSD offers greater muscle in Minas, with 141 mayors versus Novo’s 9 and a far larger share of public campaign financing reported at R$421 million versus R$37 million.
• Public servants protested outside the event over a state measure that advanced in a first-round vote to remove mandatory public consultation before Copasa’s privatization, and only one PSD governor, Fábio Mitidieri, attended.