Romeu Zema (Novo-MG) reignited the conflict with senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ). This Friday (19), the former governor of Minas Gerais said that he was never close to the parliamentarian and again criticized the relationship between Flávio and Daniel Vorcaro.
“I don’t agree with anyone who deals with this banker who proved to be a great criminal. I can’t applaud anyone who approached him,” said Zema. He was referring to the Dark Horse case, an episode in which a leaked audio shows the presidential candidate and son of Jair Bolsonaro asking Vorcaro for money.
Despite denying proximity to Flávio, Zema was with the senator during a livestock sector event held in Belo Horizonte at the beginning of June. The two shared a platform and toasted with glasses of milk. At the time, Zema declared that “the right is more united than ever”. That was the first meeting between the two presidential candidates after the former governor of Minas Gerais classified the Dark Horse case as “unforgivable”.
The union, however, did not last long. Ten days after the event in which they sealed their friendship, Romeu Zema again criticized Flávio for his involvement with Daniel Vorcaro. In an interview with the channel Parallel BrazilZema said: “Would it be possible for me to applaud someone who approaches the biggest criminal banker in Brazil? I think it’s difficult for someone to want to applaud someone who was, who lived with, a person like him.” The statements were made on June 12th.
The statements generated an immediate reaction in the Bolsonarist camp. Former federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP) used X to defend his brother and suggest a break with the Novo Party.
The discomfort reached Zema’s own party. Novo’s state directory in Santa Catarina withdrew the invitation to the pre-candidate for the party’s 7th State Meeting, scheduled for July 4 in Joinville, and warned that it could take a position against his nomination if there is no “drastic and immediate change” in the campaign’s communications team.
