The decision by former federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro to launch the president of the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo (Alesp), André do Prado (PL), as a pre-candidate for the Senate for São Paulo opened a split in Bolsonarism and part of the militancy criticized the bet on a non-ideological name and umbilically linked to Valdemar Costa Neto.
The nomination of André do Prado for the second vacancy in the Senate on the ticket of Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans) was first announced by the governor himself, in a press conference this Tuesday, 5th, and then confirmed by Eduardo. In a post on social media, the former deputy listed the reasons that led him to choose him and revealed that he will compete as André’s first substitute, even though he currently lives in the United States.
The nomination received the support of parliamentarians, such as state deputy Gil Diniz (PL) and federal deputy Mário Frias (PL), both previously considered for the vacancy, but was criticized by members of the militancy, who spoke of “disappointment” with the choice. The negative repercussion was captured by qualitative analyzes by AP Exata Inteligencia em dados.
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“Eduardo Bolsonaro’s support for André do Prado’s candidacy was poorly received by the more ideological Bolsonarist militancy. These profiles interpreted the movement as a sign of alignment and concession to the old policy, as André is seen by this group as a name linked to Centrão. Eduardo’s appointment as the first alternate reinforced the discomfort, as it suggested direct adherence to the ticket and subordination to Valdemar Costa Neto”, says Sergio Denicoli, CEO of AP Exata and data scientist.
Influencer Rodrigo Constantino has been one of the most critical of the strategy. “What a shame,” he wrote on X, when sharing the news announcing Eduardo as André do Prado’s replacement. In another publication, he stated: “We are going to become a center to fight the system, and anyone who criticizes is a traitor and is part of the system. Right-wing flavor…”
Fabio Wajngarten, former head of the Social Communication Secretariat (Secom) in the Jair Bolsonaro government, shared a publication criticizing Eduardo’s decision. The text said that Eduardo should be a candidate or substitute under another name, such as vice-mayor Ricardo Mello Araújo (PL), Gil Diniz or Mário Frias. “Being a substitute for Valdemar isn’t enough,” says the post that Wajngarten endorsed.
Federal deputy Ricardo Salles (Novo), who has been pressured to give up his pre-candidacy for the Senate, also spared no criticism and called Eduardo’s support for the president of Alesp “shameful”, whom he nicknamed “Valdemar’s puppy”.
“Eduardo himself has always expressed his hatred for the centrão”, wrote Salles in
Amid the negative repercussion, Eduardo gave an interview to the Bolsonarista channel AuriVerde Brasil to explain his decision to voters who “still don’t understand”. The former deputy’s central argument is that André has a good relationship with the state’s mayors and, therefore, could add to Flávio Bolsonaro’s (PL-RJ) presidential campaign. Eduardo said that the former Minister of the Environment will not be a candidate so as not to harm his colleague and also pre-candidate for the Senate, Guilherme Derrite (PP). Salles denies: “If they want, they can withdraw their candidacy.”
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In the interview with AuriverdeEduardo heard criticism from the presenter himself, Alexandre Pittoli. “Why (choose) a name that has no expression among us?” asked Pittoli. “If there is an agreement with you in the first substitution, that agreement would be fulfilled with Mário Frias, with Mello Araújo, with Tomé (Abduch). I understand that everyone could fulfill this agreement with you. But a name that doesn’t represent anything for us, Edu, makes me a little uncomfortable”, declared the presenter.
To Estadão, Mello Araújo said he was honored to have his name mentioned in the race for the Senate. According to him, “only time will tell whether the choice for the president of the São Paulo Legislature was strategic or not. “Of the PL, according to the research, my name was the one with the greatest potential. I never imagined this possibility of (running for) the Senate. I thank President Bolsonaro and everyone who supported me. I think Eduardo was the one who should choose and he did so. With his reasons listed,” he stated.
Bolsonarists have cited the dispute for mayor of São Paulo as an example of pragmatic support that worked. On that occasion, Bolsonaro declared his vote for Ricardo Nunes (MDB), who ended up re-elected.
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“In 2024, when President Jair Bolsonaro chose Ricardo Nunes for City Hall, the outcry was huge, Pablo Marçal was sold as the Bolsonaro candidate and Nunes as the worst possible choice. Time has shown that President Bolsonaro’s choice was right!”, wrote Gil Diniz in X, in a publication that was shared by Eduardo.
