Who is Guilherme Boulos?
Philosophy was what Guilherme Boulos studied at the University of São Paulo; he was born in the city in 1982. As national coordinator of the Homeless Workers' Movement (MTST), he became widely known. He ran for president under the PSOL banner in 2018. Twice, in 2020 and 2024, he sought the mayoralty of São Paulo and twice reached the runoff; Ricardo Nunes defeated him in October 2024, when he took about 41 percent. His 2022 election as federal deputy brought in about one million votes, which topped every candidate in the state. In October 2025 Lula chose him as head of the Presidential General Secretariat. That role ruled out a re-election run for the Chamber, so the 2026 contest went ahead without him. Unpaid leave from the ministry followed in late September 2026, so that he could work on Lula's re-election campaign, and Lula won the runoff on 25 October 2026.
Previously: Federal deputy for São Paulo (2023-2025), leader of the PSOL bench in 2023 · PSOL candidate for Mayor of São Paulo (2020 and 2024, runner-up both times) · PSOL presidential candidate (2018) · National coordinator of the Homeless Workers' Movement (MTST)
Documented positions
- The government's absolute legislative priority for 2026, he said, was scrapping the six-day working week in favour of a 40-hour week without any pay cut.Source: sbtnews.sbt.com.br
- He campaigned to exempt incomes of up to R$5,000 a month from income tax, with higher taxes on very high incomes financing the change.Source: bahianoticias.com.br
- Under the 2024 mayoral programme he ran on, fare-free buses would be introduced step by step and bus operator contracts reviewed.Source: istoedinheiro.com.br
- His 2024 programme, which contained 119 proposals, featured a health service hub aimed at ending the queues in the public health system.Source: istoedinheiro.com.br
- His proposal for São Paulo was to double the municipal guard and to work on security jointly with the state governor and the federal government.Source: seudinheiro.com
- Abortion, in his 2018 description, is a public health issue that should be dealt with while respecting women's rights.Source: oantagonista.com.br
- Drawing Lula's government nearer to social movements, the MST and MTST among them, was what he said he aimed to do as minister.Source: istoe.com.br
Record
Boulos came out of the housing movement, which pressed for housing policy by occupying empty buildings and land. Back in 2023 he was the leader of the PSOL bench in Congress. Later, as minister, he spoke for the government on the amendment ending the six-day working week, which the Chamber of Deputies approved in May 2026 and Congress promulgated in October 2026.
Supporters value his housing and labour rights work, and his ability to attract big vote totals. On the right, critics object to occupations of private property by the MTST.
In their words
“A prioridade absoluta do governo na pauta legislativa para esse ano é votar e aprovar o fim da escala 6x1.”
