Federal deputy Ricardo Salles (Novo) is being considered to lead the São Paulo state Justice Secretariat in Brazil during the second term of reelected Governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos). A former environment minister, Salles withdrew from the Senate race after discussions with the governor.
Tarcísio is preparing changes to his cabinet, with a reduced role for the PSD, Gilberto Kassab’s party. Marcelo Branco is expected to remain in charge of Urban Development and Housing, and Guilherme Afif Domingos of Strategic Projects. The Health Secretariat, previously headed by Eleuses Paiva (PSD), could go to the MDB. On Thursday (5), the governor met with Ciro Nogueira, national president of the PP, at the Bandeirantes Palace.
At least 30 mayors in the state plan to leave the PSD and join Republicanos during the next party-switching window. According to the reporting cited by the source, the mayors fear losing state funding following the strain between Kassab and Tarcísio. There is also resistance to the PSD leader’s growing closeness to Lula (PT) ahead of the 2028 elections.
