Who is Geraldo Alckmin?
Geraldo Alckmin was born in 1952 and built his career in São Paulo state, as a councillor, mayor of Pindamonhangaba, state and federal deputy, vice-governor and governor. He became governor in 2001 after Mário Covas died and held the office four times. A member of the PSDB for 33 years, he ran for president in 2006 and 2018, then left the party and joined the PSB, and in 2022 he became Lula's running mate. As Vice President he also headed the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services until early 2026. The PSB convention confirmed him for the 2026 ticket on 29 July, and Lula won the 25 October runoff against Flávio Bolsonaro.
Previously: Minister of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (January 2023 to April 2026) · Governor of São Paulo (2001-2006 and 2011-2018) · PSDB presidential candidate (2006 and 2018) · National chair of the PSDB (2017)
Documented positions
- In October 2024 he said the tax reform, phased in from 2026 to 2032 to replace five consumption taxes with a dual VAT, would already be in force if it had been done 30 years earlier.Source: jovempan.com.br
- He presents Nova Indústria Brasil, built on innovation, sustainability, competitiveness and exports, and cited R$ 66 billion for innovative industry.Source: jovempan.com.br
- In January 2026 he welcomed the Mercosur-EU agreement as free trade 'but with rules' and hoped Congress would ratify it in the first half of the year.Source: jornaldebrasilia.com.br
- As head of the government committee on the US tariffs, he said in September 2025 that about 8 percent of the affected exports had been freed from them.Source: agenciagov.ebc.com.br
- In 2022 he said infrastructure can be delivered by concessions or public-private partnerships, with the BNDES development bank backing PPPs through a guarantee fund.Source: moneytimes.com.br
- On taking office for a new term as governor in 2015 he said São Paulo had pioneered PPPs and used social organisations to run health and culture services that are 'public services, without necessarily being state-run'.Source: exame.com
- He left the PSDB in December 2021 after 33 years and joined the PSB in March 2022, which paved the way for his candidacy as Lula's vice-president.Source: congressoemfoco.com.br
Record
Alckmin's governorships were marked by concessions of state highways, public-private partnerships and outsourcing of services to social organisations. In the federal government he coordinated the response to the United States tariff of 2025, as head of the interministerial negotiation committee, and he worked on the industrial programme and the EU trade deal. He left the ministry to run again for vice-president and the ticket won the runoff.
Supporters, among them the CNI industry confederation, credit him for working with business on the tariff talks. Some PT members opposed pairing him with Lula in 2022, resistance that faded during the campaign, according to Poder360.
In their words
“Só faltam os escandalosos juros caírem e nós vamos ter uma geração de emprego ainda mais forte”
