Flávio Bolsonaro says his fight with Michelle is a ‘turned page’

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) resumed his calming tone when he spoke of unity and leaving “small differences aside” during a speech this Saturday, 27th, at an event to launch PL candidacies, in Goiás, for the next elections. The presidential candidate also signaled his interest in having a female vice-president in the electoral dispute.

The speech comes after public disagreements with Michelle Bolsonaro who, on Wednesday, 24, published an almost 30-minute video in which she reports having been disrespected and mistreated by Flávio.

“It is very important for all of us, without exception, to be increasingly united, to leave our small differences aside, because often the paths we choose are different, but to reach the same destination, to achieve the same objective”, said the senator and pre-candidate for the Presidency of the Republic.

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The night before, still in Goiás, Flávio Bolsonaro spoke of “going forward” and said that the clash was “a new page” when answering questions from journalists after a religious walk. He also said that he had spoken to his father, Jair Bolsonaro, and that “everything was fine”.

“To be very clear, from my side here, it’s a ball forward, it’s a new page”, said Flávio, who made reference to a white blouse he was wearing: “I came here with the white blouse, for peace, to look forward”.

At this Saturday’s event, Flávio also reinforced his interest in having a woman join his presidential ticket as a candidate for vice president.

In the statement, the senator mentioned Ana Paula Rezende, vice-president of Wilder Morais (PL), whose pre-candidacy for the government of Goiás was launched at the time. “Wilder is a privileged person to have at his side a woman as qualified as Ana Paula. I pray to God, Ana, that I also have the privilege of having a vice-president as qualified as you”, said Flávio.

Video creates discomfort in the campaign

Michelle Bolsonaro’s video generated wear and tear on Flávio’s campaign. In the recording, Michelle said that Flávio humiliated her during a call. The senator reportedly said that “it would be better” for the former first lady to stay “out of the party’s decisions”.

“He was very harsh, disrespected me and mistreated me on the phone. And I hadn’t done anything against him. He said it would be better for me to stay out of the party’s decisions. He said I had arrived yesterday and didn’t understand anything about politics”, said Michelle.

The clash between stepmother and stepson reported in the video was reportedly motivated after Michelle publicly criticized the decision of the Ceará PL directory to support Ciro Gomes’ candidacy for state government.

Another factor that would have motivated the recording of the video would be her suspicion that the “attacks” she suffered from communicators close to the Bolsonaro brothers, such as Paulo Figueiredo, Kim Paim, Allan dos Santos and Didi Redpill, were the work of her stepchildren.

Flávio’s answers

Flávio’s first response came on Wednesday, in a live broadcast shortly before Brazil’s World Cup game against Scotland, at 7pm. He tried to downplay the confrontation. As it was a game day for the Brazilian team, he stated that “nothing and no one” would bother him. He also said he felt “more confident” and “more prepared” to run for President.

At night, around 11pm, Flávio Bolsonaro changed his position. In a long note, he denied having disrespected or humiliated Michelle, and apologized. “If I did so at any point, once again, I apologize,” he said.

In the text, the senator invoked his family, his 24 years of public life and his “balance” as supposed marks of his character, and said he had “respect and recognition” for his stepmother.

Flávio also tried to turn the argument against her: he claimed to have called on that Wednesday morning to personally invite her to a meeting with conservative female leaders, but that the gesture “was not reciprocated”. According to Flávio, Michelle didn’t answer, didn’t return the call and, hours later, published the videos.

On Thursday, the 25th, Flávio Bolsonaro recorded a video rereading the position he had published the day before. However, with one difference: he deleted the part in which he claimed to have called Michelle on Wednesday morning.

Still on Thursday, Michelle Bolsonaro spoke again. She published a new text on social media, in which she said that “there is no fight or competition”.

“I’m not angry with anyone. I just clarified a situation that was being distorted. There is no fight or competition”, he wrote, asking that excerpts not be removed from context “to create confusion”.