Former mayor and ex-minister Edinho Silva was elected president of Brazil’s ruling Workers’ Party (PT) until 2029, with the party now focused on rebuilding dialogue and consensus.
The result was confirmed late Monday night following a judicial ruling resolving confusion in Minas Gerais state (southeast). Backed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the new leader of Latin America’s largest left-wing political organisation had been the favourite to win internal elections.
His main opponent was federal deputy Rui Falcão, the party’s former leader who ran as an independent. PT veterans Romênio Pereira and Valter Pomar stood as external candidates.
The outcome emerged after the party successfully overturned a decision suspending voting in Minas Gerais. A dispute over state deputy Dandara Tonantzin’s candidacy had paralysed the state referendum. After legal clashes, the vote was announced without Minas Gerais’ ballots. Even excluding this state, the ex-minister secured sufficient votes for victory.
According to interim PT president Senator Humberto Costa, who chaired the plebiscite, the new party leader obtained 73.48% of 342,394 votes counted so far. Falcão placed second with 11.15%. At least 400,000 members were expected to vote, with ballots still being counted in Pernambuco, Bahia, Pará, Paraná and Rio de Janeiro.
Minas Gerais’ elections are now scheduled for next Sunday. During last month’s debate, candidates warned that governmental direction must change to avoid defeat in 2026 elections, as the new president will lead the PT through next year’s municipal polls.
Falcão stated the new leadership must «adjust our political line, organisational strengthening, and coordination with popular left allies in a polarised campaign.» Costa temporarily assumed party leadership in March after Gleisi Hoffmann became Minister of Institutional Relations, heading government-parliament coordination.
Founded on 10 February 1980 by trade unionists, intellectuals, artists and liberation theology Catholics at São Paulo’s Sion College, the PT emerged from opposition to military dictatorship (1964-1985). Since inception, the party has championed democratic socialism.
