The senator and pre-candidate for President (-RJ) stated this Monday (6) that the critical stance of his brother, the former federal deputy, against the deputy (PL-MG) is counterproductive.
“At this moment I think it’s not smart. It’s an issue that we have to leave vanity aside, leave aside who is right and who isn’t, because it’s a question of our country’s survival,” said Flávio in an interview with the Intelligence Ltda podcast.
The senator praised Nikolas, whom he called the “greatest digital power” and “golden brat”. “Despite the low age for politics, he is 29 years old. He is a mature guy. He is an intelligent guy. He is a guy who understands the political game. That helps a lot,” he stated.
Flávio also said that Eduardo’s financial situation influences his brother. Abroad since February last year, Eduardo has had his personal accounts and his wife’s accounts blocked thanks to a criminal case in the Federal Supreme Court (STF).
“He’s getting by there with friends, he has a little money that he managed to save. […] He sits there in tension thinking the following: why can’t these people see that everyone has to be together?”, he said
The statement came two days after Eduardo and Nikolas exchanged barbs on the social network X (formerly Twitter). Eduardo accused the Minas Gerais deputy of sharing content from a right-wing profile that did not support Flávio’s presidential pre-candidacy. The Minas Gerais deputy then responded with a laugh to the publication.
“Snicker at me? Apparently, there are no limits to your disrespect towards me and my family”, said Eduardo.
He stated that Nikolas puts Flávio in a “spiral of silence” by not demonstrating effective public support.
He continued: “The spotlight and fame did you harm, unfortunately. It took me a long time to believe that you worked the algorithm of your networks to give visibility to those who wish my father’s death, to those who celebrate his arrest and to all those who hate me and my family.”
Shortly after the new friction, Flávio published a video on social media on Saturday asking for peace. “It’s very distressing to see leaders on our side fighting each other while we have a country to rescue,” he said.
Nikolas shared the video with the comment: “I agree, president. Each one doing their part, we’ll get there.”
The episode is another chapter in the PL’s internal split since former president Jair Bolsonaro was arrested and declared ineligible. Members of the center believe that the public fights, especially involving the Bolsonaro family, make it difficult for Flávio to form alliances and undermine the image of moderation that he tries to project.
In February, Nikolas had already stated, after visiting Bolsonaro in Papudinha, that Eduardo “is not well”, in response to criticism made against him and former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro for, in Eduardo’s view, not having engaged enough in Flávio’s campaign.
Flávio stated this Monday that he did not expect to be a pre-candidate for the Presidency and that the first name mentioned was that of the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans).
According to him, the decision came from his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro, in December last year. “My father said: ‘it has to be you, I’ll announce it'”, he reported.
Flávio said that he contacted Tarcísio shortly afterwards and that the governor supported the choice. The senator acknowledged that the financial market reacted badly to the announcement because it “predicted that Tarcísio had a better chance of beating Lula than Flávio Bolsonaro.”
