União Brasil announced on Tuesday that it will remain neutral in the 2026 presidential election, declining to endorse any candidate for president. In a statement released after its national convention, the party declared that individual candidates are free to participate in presidential campaigns within their respective states.
Party president Antonio Rueda said the decision demonstrates the political maturity of the organization. Rueda said he is aware of the national political weight of the Federação União Progressista and stated that the party has well-prepared candidates for all public offices.
Government ties and exit
União Brasil previously held two cabinet posts in President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's administration. Daniela Carneiro and later Celso Sabino led the Ministry of Tourism, while Juscelino Filho headed the Ministry of Communications. Senate President Davi Alcolumbre, a União member representing Amapá, also selected Waldez Góes of the Democratic Labour Party for the Ministry of National Integration and Regional Development.
The party withdrew from the government in September of last year. At that time, party leadership gave appointed officials 24 hours to resign from their government positions or face penalties for party infidelity.
That exit occurred after Federal Police named Rueda in investigations examining potential infiltration by the Primeiro Comando da Capital organized crime group into Brazil's fuel and financial industries.
Previous election strategy
The neutral stance mirrors the party's approach during the last presidential race. In 2022, União Brasil nominated Soraya Thronicke in the first round of voting before allowing its members to support either Jair Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party or Lula in the runoff election.
