Paraná Governor Ratinho Júnior (PSD) announced on Monday (March 23) that he is withdrawing from the 2026 presidential race and will complete his state term. PSD national president Gilberto Kassab stated the party will select its candidate by month's end, between Governors Eduardo Leite (RS) and Ronaldo Caiado (GO). The decision surprised Kassab but does not change the third-way plan.
Paraná Governor Ratinho Júnior (PSD) announced his withdrawal in an official note on the afternoon of March 23, 2026, after family reflection the previous night. He justified it by his commitment to Paraná voters, highlighting 85% approval, Brazil's best education, lowest crime rates in 20 years, and records in infrastructure and sustainability. 'The Governor Ratinho Junior decided to complete his term in Paraná until December this year,' the note states, adding he plans to return to the private sector presiding over his father Ratinho's media group, and steps aside from PSD's presidential race against Lula and Flávio Bolsonaro (PL). Allies cite family pressure and Sergio Moro's PL affiliation for Paraná governorship as influencing factors, complicating Ratinho's state succession. Kassab was surprised that morning and tried to dissuade him, postponing a March 25 announcement. In a note and social media, PSD president reaffirmed the timeline: decision by March 31 or next week. He praised Ratinho and the others: 'Both [Leite and Caiado] have presented their projects for Brazil.' Leite positioned himself online: 'I am ready and full of energy to lead this different alternative outside polarization.' Internally, Caiado gains favoritism per sources, due to his more right-wing profile. PSD upholds its third-way project against Lula-Bolsonaro polarization.
