In search of space to assert himself on the right, , former governor of Minas Gerais and pre-candidate of the Novo party for President, took advantage of the Federal Police operation regarding what targeted the president of , senator (PI), to reinforce his anti-system speech and win over more radical voters.
The strategy, which includes calling politicians from Brasília and ministers of the (Supreme Federal Court) untouchables, seeks both to expand space in the Bolsonarist electorate and to make him viable as vice president of (), although the senator’s allies have doubts about the alliance.
By leading clashes with the STF and making controversial statements, , , who seeks a moderation speech to avoid the rejection linked to his father, the former president (PL).
“I have been the pre-candidate who has been most vocal, I don’t have my tail stuck,” said Zema this Thursday (7), after the operation.
The target of the former governor’s criticism is the president (PT), whom he calls omission in the Master crisis, but the speech also ends up reaching opponents from the same right-wing camp.
Among the PF’s main suspicions are that Ciro Nogueira, who was Minister of the Civil House during the Bolsonaro administration, , cousin of , owner of Master. Furthermore, according to the investigations, there would be payment for other personal expenses of the parliamentarian, such as jet travel.
In videos released on his networks after the operation, Zema reinforced the anti-corruption agenda and says that the issue will influence the October elections. He doesn’t mention Ciro Nogueira’s name, but displays a photo of him and Vorcaro while talking about “sold out politicians”, “old foxes who just want to rob you” and “scumbags” who cover up the Master’s frauds.
Flávio’s allies are divided in relation to having Zema as vice-president on the ticket — the Minas Gerais native says he will maintain his candidacy until the end, but the ticket with the PL is defended by allies on both sides. The other name considered for vice, that of senator Tereza Cristina (PP-MS), against the president of the PP, but has not been ruled out.
Criticism of Ciro on the networks also served to oppose Zema to Flávio’s possible alliance with the PP. The former governor’s main political coordinator in Minas Gerais, however, is a member of the PP, the former deputy and pre-candidate for Marcelo Aro.
Flávio’s aides claim that having Zema in the vice position would be important to win votes in Minas Gerais, a state considered decisive in presidential elections. On the other hand, there are doubts about the former governor’s ability to transfer votes to allies.
published last week shows Zema’s candidate, the current governor Mateus Simões (), who was his vice-president, with 4%, behind Cleitinho (Republicans, 30%), Alexandre Kalil (PDT, 14%) and Rodrigo Pacheco (PSB, 8%).
Furthermore, the ticket with Zema could disrupt Flávio’s platform in Minas, according to some of his allies. While the senator is still looking for a candidate to represent him in the state, Zema is committed to Simões, who in turn is from the presidential candidate’s party (PSD), which would lead Flávio to have a divided platform in the state.
Another negative point raised by members of Flávio’s team is the fact that Zema engages in clashes with the STF, which would go against Bolsonaro’s son’s efforts to soften his image.
This point is also dubious around the senator. As they have too much power, according to Datafolha, the fact that Zema led the confrontation with the court is seen by one wing as a quality that qualifies him for the vice position.
A chief from the União Progressista federation (União Brasil-PP) claims that Zema will be one of the most important themes of the election. He predicts that the court’s image will tend to worsen in the coming months and that the former governor of Minas Gerais managed to capitalize on the issue with public opinion.
Pressured by opponents on the right and by the PT, Flávio repositioned himself in relation to the operation that affected Ciro Nogueira. His first public demonstration sought distance — and only defended the investigations.
In videos published later on his networks, the senator demanded the installation of a CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry) into Banco Master and turned his criticisms to the PT.
On the 22nd, during a press interview in the Chamber of Deputies in which Zema was treated, in a friendly way, as a candidate for vice by PL parliamentarians. At the time, the former governor stated that he will remain in the race and that the right-wing candidates will be together in the second round.
“Bolsonaro himself said that the more candidates the right has, the better. […] To date, there has been no formal request from anyone to be vice-president, but I am sure that the right has good candidates and we will all be together in the second round”, he said.
