The governor of Brazil's wealthiest and most populous state, Tarcisio de Freitas, has emerged as an early contender to lead conservatives after his mentor, far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro, was barred from elected office for eight years. Although the governor and his closest advisers insist he is focused on serving Sao Paulo state, many of Brazil's seasoned conservative power brokers are already calling the pro-business moderate a natural candidate for the presidency in three years. Stoking the speculation, Freitas showed his political mettle this month by backing a landmark tax reform in a sharp break with Bolsonaro, who had thrust him to prominence by making him infrastructure minister in his administration.
BRASILIA (Reuters) - The governor of Brazil's wealthiest and most populous state, Tarcisio de Freitas, has emerged as an early contender to lead conservatives after his mentor, far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro, was barred from elected office for eight years.
Sao Paulo governor turns heads on Brazil s right after Bolsonaro election ban reuters.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from reuters.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
BRASILIA: The governor of Brazil's wealthiest and most populous state, Tarcisio de Freitas, has emerged as an early contender to lead conservatives after his mentor, far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro, was barred from elected office for eight years. Although the governor and his closest advisers ins