Senator Izalci Lucas exchanged the PSDB for the PL in a ceremony on Wednesday night (27), in Brasília, which was attended by the party president, Valdemar Costa Neto, and former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL), among other supporters.
The senator’s membership is part of the PL’s strategy of expanding the number of members with a view to this year’s municipal elections and, mainly, the majority elections in 2026. Lucas is tipped to run for succession to the government of the Federal District.
“The only party that has today [com] willingness, program, competence to face this moment is the PL, and that’s why I’m here”, said the senator who returns to the PL when it was still called the Party of the Republic (PR).
Valdemar Costa Neto stated that the senator “can always count on the entire party by his side”, being amended shortly afterwards by Bolsonaro, who said he was sure that “we will all benefit from this”.
“More than the DF, Brazil gains from this act, from this will and from this determination of Professor Izalci”, added Bolsonaro.
The party’s senator, Rogério Marinho (PL-RN), went further at the reception and stated that Lucas’s membership “strengthens our voice and fight for a more prosperous Brazil in the Senate, as well as our mission to represent the people’s desires and promote the defense of freedoms, family and development”.
Still during the ceremony, Bolsonaro celebrated Lucas’s affiliation and announced that other important names should join the party soon, including a “heavyweight” governor – but without revealing any names. Among the names discussed to join the PL is Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos-SP), governor of São Paulo and identified by Bolsonaro voters as a strong name to replace him in the 2026 presidential succession if ineligibility is maintained.
With the arrival of Izalci, the PL now has 13 senators, positioning itself as the second largest bench in the Senate, with two fewer congressmen than the PSD. Izalci stated that one of his strategies when changing parties is to seek a candidacy for government of the Federal District in 2026.
Izalci’s departure from the PSDB leaves the party with just one representative in the Senate, Plínio Valério (AM), who is also coveted by other parties. Because they have a majority mandate, senators can change parties at any time, as can governors and mayors.
