PSTU National Convention Confirms Hertz Dias’s Candidacy for Country’s President

On Friday night (the 31st) in São Paulo, The Unified Socialist Workers Party (or PSTU) officially announced their nomination of Hertz Dias’ for President and Vanessa Portugal, a professor from Minas Gerais, for Vice President in the 2026 elections. The certification took place during the party’s National Electoral Convention at the headquarters of the Metro Workers’ Union in São Paulo, bringing together leaders, militants, and supporters from different regions of the country.

A teacher in the Maranhão public school system, rapper, and activist in the Black rights movement, Hertz Dias leads the PTSU’s presidential ticket with a platform that presents a socialist, class-independent alternative to the far right and Lula’s government. Vanessa Portugal will be at his side; she is also a public school teacher in Belo Horizonte (MG), union leader, and militant in the women’s and popular movements.

The PSTU reaffirmed that their campaign will defend a program geared towards the interests of the working class. Some of their key proposals are–the end of the 6×1 work schedule without wage cuts, a general increase in wages in order to reach the minimum wage calculated by Dieese, the repeal of Labor and Social Security reforms, the protection of public services, national sovereignty against imperialism, and worker’s control of the country’s resources.

While expressing gratitude for his official candidacy, Hertz Dias stated that the PSTU intends to use the electoral campaign to strengthen the social struggles and present a political alternative built by workers.

“Our candidacy was launched to give voice to the workers, the youth, women, the Black population, and to the oppressed groups that face unemployment, low wages, and loss of their rights daily. We want to present a socialist alternative for Brazil, built through the mobilization of our class,” he stated.

Vanessa Portugal emphasized that the campaign will also be an instrument to strengthen the struggle to defend public education, public services, and women’s rights.

“We will travel throughout Brazil, talking with those that produce this country’s wealth. Our platform represents those who resist exploitation and oppression and who believe that only the independent organization of the working class can transform the reality in Brazil.”

An activist in the Black movement, Hertz Dias was a candidate for Vice President in 2018, on the ticket led by Vera Lúcia. He is one of the founders of the Urban Quilombo Movement in Maranhão, which brings together culture, hip-hop, and the fight against racism, and he is also a member of the rap group Gíria Vermelha. Vanessa Portugal is active in the education union movement in Minas Gerais and in CSP-Conlutas, with a history supporting the struggles of working women and defending public education.

With the certification of the presidential ticket, the PSTU has officially begun their campaign for the 2026 elections, defending a socialist alternative and class independence in the country.

First published here by Opinião Socialista