The former first lady responded this Tuesday (2) to criticism from the former president’s children () about sewing with the former minister in Ceará.
In a note shared on her Instagram profile, Michelle said she “respects” her stepchildren’s opinion, but stated that she thinks differently and that she has the “right to express” her thoughts “freely and sincerely.”
This happened after federal deputy André Fernandes (PL-CE) gave Ciro Gomes, Bolsonaro’s opponent in the 2018 elections and with a former president and Bolsonaroism.
“I could never agree to give my support to the candidacy of a man who caused so much harm to my husband and my family. How can I support (or not, charitably, admonish those who support) a man who was responsible for implementing the narrative that labeled my husband as genocidal?”, wrote Michelle.
After visiting his father at the Federal Police Superintendency this Tuesday morning, Flávio signaled that he wanted to lower his temperature. The senator said that he apologized to his stepmother, that he explained the situation to his father and that the PL platform is not yet closed in any state.
“I explained to him what had happened, but I said that I’ve already resolved things with Michelle, I apologized to her. So did she. We’re going to have a meeting today [terça] in the PL to actually create a routine for making decisions together. In Ceará, as in several other states in Brazil, there is no decision taken”, he stated.
Flávio and his brothers Eduardo, Carlos Bolsonaro and Jair Renan had a public fight with their stepmother on Sunday (30th) and Monday (1st) since Michelle criticized the support for Ciro’s candidacy and said that her candidate for the government of Ceará is Eduardo Girão (New).
Flávio said that the situation will not happen again and praised his stepmother. He added that “there is no point in wanting to separate” because they will “sit down, talk and align in all states, including Ceará”.
“She is a woman who conquered, who became a reference throughout the country, who led the women’s movement throughout Brazil, a respected woman, who has a good image, who is a great figure, yes, of our party and who has a very important role at this moment in Brazil”, stated the senator.
In the note released on her social networks, Michelle stated that Ciro Gomes is not right-wing and will always be a persecutor against Bolsonaro.
“How can I be happy with supporting the candidacy of a man who constantly calls my husband a chicken thief, a weakling and so many other insults? How can I be complicit in supporting a political fox who says he is proud of having made the petition that led to my husband’s ineligibility and says he is satisfied with the persecution he has suffered?”, he declared.
Michelle said she does not know what Bolsonaro’s will is in relation to the PL’s alliance with Ciro, but stated that she has a “duty” to defend her husband and speak out against situations that will be “harmful to him”.
According to her, “it is not enough to defeat the PT and the left; we must do so by remaining faithful to our values and acting in a manner consistent with them.”
“It was for this, and only for this reason, that I spoke out in Ceará. I could not remain silent in the face of these events”, she stated. “Those who defend this alliance are free to continue with it, but they should not criticize me for not accepting it”, added the former first lady.
On Sunday, Michelle classified André Fernandes’ approach to Ciro as hasty. “Make a covenant with the man [Ciro] who is against the greatest leader of the right, that doesn’t work, that doesn’t work”, he declared during the launch of Girão’s pre-candidacy for government.
André Fernandes responded to the statement to the press: “If she says it was a hasty alliance, then it is a hasty alliance from her own husband.”
Flávio then stated that his stepmother, who, according to him, had authorized André Fernandes’ movement in Ceará.
“And the way she addressed him [a André Fernandes]who is perhaps our greatest local leadership, was authoritarian and embarrassing”, said Bolsonaro’s eldest son to columnist Igor Gadelha, from the Metrópoles portal.
Afterwards, the brothers endorsed Flávio.
“My brother Flávio Bolsonaro is correct. What was done at the event was unfair and disrespectful to André Fernandes [em que Michelle criticou o parlamentar]”, wrote Eduardo. “I’m not going to go into the merits of whether it was a good or bad agreement, it was a position defined by my father. André could not be criticized for obeying the leader”, he added.
Carlos, who is expected to run for a seat in the Senate for Santa Catarina, also defended his older brother. “We have to be united and respect my father’s leadership, without letting us be led by other forces,” he said.
A Sheet showed the confusion involving the Bolsonaro family in Ceará. Michelle defends the name of Fortaleza councilor Priscila Costa (PL), while André Fernandes pushes for the candidate to be his father, state deputy Alcides Fernandes (PL).
