Former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro (PL) published a video, in which the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), appears criticizing the economic policy of the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT). The post was made shortly after Michelle visited former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) at the Federal Police Superintendence, where he remains imprisoned, this Tuesday, and comes amid demands for support from the governor’s more incisive support for Flávio Bolsonaro’s (PL) pre-candidacy for the Presidency.
Bolsonaro’s allies are divided between two interpretations of the post: while part of his supporters saw it as a “diplomatic” nod to Tarcísio, others saw it as an attempt to reinforce the governor’s name as still viable in the presidential race. Although Michelle publicly reinforces her endorsement of Flávio, this would not be her preference. Last year, she came to publicly disagree with her stepchildren over party articulations, which exposed a dispute for protagonism in the Bolsonaro clan.
Also this Tuesday, senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) asked that the governor of São Paulo not be charged with more emphatic support for his pre-candidacy for the Planalto. Flávio said he “trusts the loyalty” of his ally and is sure that he will be on the governor’s platform. Tarcísio was considered the favorite to represent the center-right camp in this year’s elections, but saw his plans become more difficult after Bolsonaro chose Flávio for the mission.
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Although he is not ruled out to run for president and appears well in opinion polls, party chiefs from the Centrão believe that he should be content with re-election to Palácio Bandeirantes. So far, the nods of support for Flávio have been timid. As O GLOBO showed last week, a month after the announcement of Flávio’s pre-campaign, although the governor has said more than once that he will support him, allies say he will need to be more incisive.
Although he has said more than once that he will support Flávio’s venture, especially after questions from journalists, Tarcísio did not mention the senator in any of the 42 posts he made on Instagram during the period.
“I spoke to him while I was in the United States. He has already declared that he will support me, so we are not going to pressure him. I trust in his loyalty. The platform in São Paulo, with a governor who is highly rated and delivers, like Tarcísio, is any candidate’s dream,” he stated.
According to Tarcísio’s allies, after Jair Bolsonaro gave the go-ahead for Flávio to run for president, the senator called the governor to tell him about the decision, and later called his ally other times. Still according to people close to him, Tarcísio is willing to “help with whatever is needed”, as requested by the head of the ticket.
For these interlocutors, the governor has welcomed Flávio’s visits to Faria Lima leaders, although he has not helped organize the meetings. To GLOBO, the president of a Centrão party states that when the “campaign heats up”, Tarcísio will get involved in Flávio’s electoral endeavor.
The governor’s lack of commitment in the pre-campaign, however, is already causing a reaction from Bolsonarist allies in Alesp. Three weeks ago, during the last sessions of the year, state deputy Gil Diniz (PL-SP) said that the governor should even sign a document ensuring support for Flávio.
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“My pre-candidate for the presidency is called Flávio Bolsonaro. I would also like the governor to be clearer in his positions. He gave public support to Flávio, but I would also like, if possible, for him to sign a commitment that here in São Paulo, senator Flávio Bolsonaro will have the biggest platform any presidential candidate has ever seen”, defended Diniz.
In the same week, days after Flávio announced his pre-candidacy, Tarcísio even expressed support for the senator, but signaled that there would be other candidacies in the conservative field and, in the subsequent days, made no further references to the matter.
