São Paulo Mayor Ricardo Nunes, a member of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (MDB) and a supporter of Flávio Bolsonaro’s campaign, said he opposes the presidential candidacy of influencer Pablo Marçal, who runs for the Brazilian Labor Party (PRTB). Nunes stated that all political forces should unite against the Workers’ Party (PT), which he accused of driving the country into a crisis.
Political alliances ahead of 2026
Nunes, who leads Brazil’s largest city, positioned himself within the broader centre‑right opposition to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s PT. By aligning with Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, he signals an effort to consolidate conservative forces ahead of the 2026 general election. The PT, Brazil’s historic centre‑left party led by Lula, remains the dominant force on the left, and Nunes framed the contest as a binary choice between the PT and a united opposition.
Legal challenges for Marçal
Marçal’s candidacy faces legal hurdles because he is currently ineligible to hold office due to a prior conviction that bars him from running for eight years. The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) will examine his eligibility before allowing him to continue his campaign or participate in debates. Nunes dismissed the idea that Marçal’s presence could weaken Lula’s reelection bid, arguing that the opposition should focus on defeating the PT rather than benefiting from a fragmented rival.
History between Nunes and Marçal
Nunes and Marçal ran against each other in the 2024 São Paulo municipal election, leaving their relationship strained. Marçal apologized to Nunes after joining the centre‑right Brazil Union (União Brasil) in March 2026, but later left the party and returned to the PRTB. Nunes said he would forgive Marçal if his apology were sincere, but he wants no political closeness with him.
The mayor’s remarks highlight the shifting alliances ahead of the 2026 general election, as centre‑right figures seek to consolidate opposition to the PT while navigating legal challenges to rival candidacies. Single-source reporting from Folha de S.Paulo.