After the governor of Paraná, Ratinho Junior (PSD), stated that he will fulfill his mandate until the end, the coordination of the senator’s presidential pre-campaign (-RJ) evaluates the names of the senator (PP-MS) or the senator from Minas Gerais (Novo) as possible vice-presidents.
The decision should only be taken closer to the party conventions, in July.
Flávio’s allies are divided on whether to defend Tereza or Zema. Some of the senator’s supporters preferred Ratinho as vice-president, but this hypothesis is practically ruled out since he will serve his term until the end in Paraná.
On Tuesday (24), Flávio stated that he is not dealing with the choice of vice president at this time. “Let’s take it easy”, he replied, mentioning the names of Tereza and Zema among the options. He also nodded to the governor of Paraná: “Ratinho is always a good team to join us at national level.”
In an interview with the program Frente a Frente, from Sheet and from UOL, the president of PL, Valdemar Costa Neto, for Flávio. The former president (PL) would have indicated a preference for Zema, according to interlocutors.
Zema is seen as a good option as he represents the second largest electoral college in the country, Minas Gerais, where Flávio seeks to take votes from (PT). In 2022, Bolsonaro lost to the PT member in the state by 49.8% to 50.2%.
The former governor is willing to be vice president, according to members of the pre-campaign, but there are reservations on both sides. On Zema’s part, there is fear of joining Flávio’s ticket and, consequently, being part of the internal conflicts of the Bolsonaro clan and the PL.
In Flávio’s team, on the other hand, there is doubt regarding the potential votes that Zema could add. The group even carried out a survey to measure whether the former governor’s support would be decisive in winning over the Minas Gerais electorate.
According to a member of the pre-campaign, the research was not conclusive. In 2024, the candidate supported by Zema for Mayor of Belo Horizonte, and only 9 of the 853 mayors in the state elected him.
Publicly, Zema has denied any negotiations and said that he will continue his presidential candidacy until the end.
Tereza Cristina is the favorite name among the centrão parties, but her nomination depends on a national coalition between Flávio and the federation made up of União Brasil and PP.
These parties were working for the presidential candidacy of the governor of , (Republicans), and still show resistance to endorsing Flávio, preferring at the moment to prioritize the construction of tickets for the legislative elections.
Her profile is seen in the senator’s team as capable of increasing support among female voters, a weakness of former president Bolsonaro.
She could also increase the support of important agricultural agents, a sector in which the senator is one of the main interlocutors in Congress, having presided over the Parliamentary Front for Agriculture and being Minister of Agriculture in the last administration.
Those who argue against Tereza point out that Flávio will already have the votes of the public linked to agriculture anyway, as they would reject Lula.
On the other hand, some allies of the pre-candidate claim that, since Bolsonarism boosted the tariffs on the president of the United States, Donald Trump, there is discomfort in the sector with the former president’s son. Furthermore, a likely opponent in the election with the departure of Ratinho Junior is the governor of Goiás, Ronaldo Caiado (PSD), a historic leader in agribusiness.
Tereza is from a state (Mato Grosso do Sul) with an electorate that is less relevant to the national dispute.
The governor of Pernambuco, Raquel Lyra (PSD), was even approached by members of the pre-campaign, with the proposal to go to the PP and become vice-president. It would be a way to win over voters in the Northeast, where Lula is strongest, but she preferred to run for re-election. Other names from the region are also studied, especially those of women.
