Tipped to be Flávio Bolsonaro’s (PL) candidate for the government of Minas Gerais in 2026, senator Cleitinho Azevedo (Republicanos-MG) positioned himself in defense of Michelle Bolsonaro, amid attacks directed at the former first lady by sectors of the right.
The former first lady released a video this week to point out that Flávio Bolsonaro had humiliated and disrespected her in a telephone call and complained about the coordinated attacks he receives. The senator reacted, in a note and also in a video, denying having disrespected his stepmother.
When commenting on the case, Cleitinho stated that the disagreement involving Michelle and Flávio Bolsonaro is a family issue and avoided taking sides in the dispute.
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“It’s a family matter that doesn’t concern me. I’m not here to judge or condemn anyone, especially because both Michelle Bolsonaro and Flávio Bolsonaro are adult and wise people, and I’m sure they will understand each other,” he said.
Despite claiming that he respects both, the senator made an emphatic defense of Michelle and criticized conservative profiles that, according to him, have been attacking the former first lady since last year.
“I want to come out in defense of Michelle Bolsonaro, who has been attacked by the right wing since last year. People, pages, Instagram profiles attacking her in an unfair and cowardly way, making bad jokes with Michelle, who is a woman, wife, mother, who is taking care of a man who is unjustly imprisoned. You are not showing the slightest bit of respect either for her or for Bolsonaro”, he stated.
Cleitinho has not yet decided whether he will be a candidate and stated that he will only announce his fate after the World Cup. The PL and Flávio Bolsonaro have him as their main bet to support Flávio’s platform. If Cleitinho does not run, the PL will try to make its own candidacy viable. The names of businessmen Flávio Roscoe and Vittorio Medioli are mentioned as options.
