The governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), canceled his visit this Thursday to Jair Bolsonaro (PL) in Papudinha, in Brasília, where the former president is imprisoned. According to the statement, the reason is the “fulfillment of commitments” in the state, and a new date will be requested — visits require authorization from Minister Alexandre de Moraes, rapporteur of the case at the Federal Supreme Court (STF).
Despite the official justification, the change of plans takes place in a context of pressure on Tarcísio. The governor, who for many on the right is considered the best presidential candidate to face President Lula (PT), saw Bolsonaro put one of his sons, senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), as a candidate, and has been accused when he makes moves that are seen as an alleged competitor.
To GLOBO, in fact, Flávio had anticipated what messages his father would give to Tarcísio on the visit scheduled for Thursday.
“Tarcísio will hear from Bolsonaro that he is doing a great job as governor of São Paulo and that his re-election is fundamental to the national strategy of defeating the PT. Presidential elections are ruled out for him”, said the senator.
Faced with distrust of Bolsonarism, Tarcísio publicly reiterated in recent weeks that he will support Flávio. The governor also approached STF ministers in favor of house arrest for Bolsonaro, a move described by allies as an attempt to preserve a direct channel with the family nucleus that still influences decisions and, at the same time, maintain the bond with the godfather amid the vacuum created by the prison.
The request for the meeting had been presented on Monday by Bolsonaro’s defense, who was transferred last week to the 19th Battalion of the Military Police of the Federal District (PM-DF), known as Papudinha. By determination of the STF, all visits to the former president require authorization from the rapporteur.
