Haddad says he is not a candidate for anything and that he has never discussed cabinet reshuffles with Lula.

247 - Finance Minister Fernando Haddad (PT) has ruled out any possibility of running for political office in the 2026 elections, including a potential presidential candidacy. Haddad, who is frequently speculated as a possible PT alternative should President Lula (PT) decide not to run for reelection, also said he has never spoken with Lula about the ministerial reshuffle. 

"This is a matter for him [Lula], which he has always handled as a personal responsibility, which is to assemble the team. It is his initiative and prerogative," Haddad said regarding the ministerial reform this Monday (25), during his participation in the opening of the CEO Conference Brazil 2025, an event promoted by BTG Pactual, in São Paulo, according to Metropolis. 

"These news reports that are coming out... I never discussed cabinet reshuffles with the president. I never suggested a name to the president, neither to dismiss nor to hire. It doesn't work that way," he emphasized. 

"Thank God, democracy was saved. This guarantees each of us the freedom to do what we want with our vote in 2026," the minister stated, referring to Lula's victory over Jair Bolsonaro (PL) in the 2022 presidential election. He also downplayed negative analyses of the economy's performance and ruled out running for office in 2026. "It's easy for some analysts, sometimes, to throw stones now. I say this as a Brazilian who is not a candidate for anything next year."

The minister also emphasized the need to focus on the economic agenda and asked for support from financial agents and public opinion. "It's not so difficult for a country as blessed as ours to achieve so little, because everything is within our power to do it," said Haddad. "My wish is that people focus on the core of our problem and help the economic area advance in internal and external discussions, with the other branches of government." 

He also stated that the government's economic agenda is institutional and should not be harmed by the electoral environment. "We have an agenda to fulfill here. The more support this agenda receives from people interested in the country's progress, the more it will advance," he noted.

Regarding possible political turbulence next year, the minister considered: "I don't think 2026 will contaminate 2025, because it's an institutional agenda. There's a government agenda, an ideological agenda – which is legitimate – and a state agenda, to address Brazil's lag in relation to other countries that are more advanced than us."

Haddad was also questioned about alleged "friendly fire" within the government, especially in relation to the Chief of Staff, Rui Costa (PT). Behind the scenes, there is speculation about disagreements between the two, but the Finance Minister denied any discord.

"The type of debate I face, both inside and outside the government, is normal. It's a debate that exists in society. To imagine that the government won't reflect legitimate positions on how to manage the economy is unreasonable. But, compared to two years ago, today I see much more convergence than divergence," he argued.