This Tuesday (2) suspended support for the candidacy of the former minister () for the Government of Ceará and decided to map any agreements concluded by (PL) in other states, after his, (PL).
After two days of accusations, Michelle met at the PL headquarters this Tuesday with her eldest stepson, senator (PL-RJ), federal deputy André Fernandes (PL-CE), the party president, , and the general secretary, senator (PL-RN).
After the meeting, Fernandes said that Bolsonaro, Valdemar, Flávio and Marinho were aware of the conversations with Ciro, but Michelle was not. The deputy, who is president of the PL in Ceará, added that negotiations in the state would be suspended and that the “composition” would take place together.
“I comply with the order of the national directory of President Valdemar and President Bolsonaro, who previously authorized me to try these articulations. But for the moment we are going to take a break. We are going to rethink, we are going to analyze a better future for the state of Ceará and I thank you for your confidence in continuing to lead this articulation”, said Fernandes.
Flávio and his brothers Eduardo and Carlos Bolsonaro had a public fight on Sunday (30th) and Monday (1st) since the former first lady criticized the support for Ciro’s candidacy for the government of Ceará and said that her candidate is senator Eduardo Girão (New).
Fernandes reacted to the former first lady’s criticism on Sunday by saying that Bolsonaro had authorized negotiations with Ciro in an attempt to defeat governor Elmano de Freitas, from the PT.
At this Tuesday’s meeting, the PL sought to clarify the episode with Ciro and Girão.
A participant at the meeting told the Sheet that Bolsonaro tried to speak to Ciro by phone at the beginning of the year through Fernandes, but was unable to do so because the former minister was at an event. After the attempt, Fernandes was authorized to coordinate the PL platform in the state with Ciro.
On the other side, Girão’s allies claim that he spoke with the former president at the beginning of the year through senator Magno Malta (PL-ES) at the PL headquarters in Brasília. Girão asked for support for his candidacy for government and, in response, Bolsonaro would have said he would do that, if it were up to him alone.
Party members claim that the fight served to demonstrate that it is necessary to understand exactly what negotiations were authorized by Bolsonaro in each of the states, especially in those where more than one candidate seeks the support of the former president, such as Santa Catarina.
With Bolsonaro imprisoned since August — first at home and, since the 25th, in a closed regime at the Federal Police Superintendence in Brasília —, parliamentarians claim that only the former president knows exactly what he dealt with and with whom.
The PL released a note stating that Michelle and Fernandes spoke alone before this Tuesday’s meeting, prayed together and clarified their positions. “Both spoke of the admiration they feel for each other and lined up the next steps”, says an excerpt from the note.
When visiting Bolsonaro in the morning, Flávio declared that he apologized to his stepmother and that he explained the situation to his father. In the afternoon, he attributed the episode to “communication noise”, said that everyone talked “like adults” and that the objective is to defeat the PT in Ceará.
“What we identified was a noise of communication with Michelle speaking with heart, with the authority she has, with the truth that she carries in her words, at every event she goes to. Being an example for millions of women throughout Brazil”, he said.
“And, on the other side, our greatest leader in Ceará, André Fernandes. He is an exceptional person, an exemplary deputy and even surprises at times due to the maturity and clarity with which he sees the political game like few others. He is a person who has our total trust as well”, he added.
Girão declined to comment on the fight between the Bolsonaro clan and Fernandes. The senator limited himself to saying that he defends a right-wing candidacy. “I always seek peace, but I defend an authentic right-wing candidacy leading the way,” he told the reporter.
