By Marcela Ayres
BRASILIA, Dec 18 (Reuters) – Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad reaffirmed on Thursday that he has no intention of running for public office next year, adding that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he would respect that decision.
Haddad told a press conference he would not, however, rule out stepping down in the near future, noting his desire to participate in Lula’s presidential campaign in 2026 for a fourth non-consecutive term.
“I expressed my desire to collaborate with President Lula’s campaign, which is incompatible with the position of finance minister,” he said.
He signaled February would be the ideal time for a potential replacement to take over.
Haddad, a former Sao Paulo mayor and candidate for Sao Paulo state governor, has been a subject of speculation in Brazilian media and political circles as a possible candidate next year for a variety of offices.
Earlier on Thursday, Lula told journalists he would like to see Haddad running for office next year, praising the minister for having “a biography to decide what he wants to do.”
If the minister decides to run, he would have to leave the finance ministry by April, according to Brazilian electoral law.
(Reporting by Marcela Ayres; Writing by Fernando Cardoso; Editing by Edmund Klamann)
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