Former governor of Minas Gerais Romeu Zema (Novo) gathered allies this Wednesday in Congress and announced, in Brasília, the presentation of a request for impeachment against minister Gilmar Mendes, after being included in the fake news investigation at the Federal Supreme Court (STF). Zema also won the support of senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), who came to his colleague’s defense during an agenda in Mato Grosso.
Alongside deputy Cabo Gilberto Silva (PL-PB), Zema defended changes in the functioning of the Court, such as the end of monocratic decisions and the setting of an age limit for ministers.
Zema was included in the investigation following Gilmar’s request to Minister Alexandre de Moraes, rapporteur of the case, due to the publication of a video criticizing and satirizing Supreme Court ministers. The former governor reacted publicly, classifying the measure as “absurd” and re-publicizing the content on social media.
Amid speculation about the formation of a ticket for 2026, Zema once again denied negotiations to be vice president. While passing through Brasília, he stated that there are no conversations in this regard and defended the multiplicity of right-wing candidacies.
— There was no formal request for anyone to be vice. The right will have good candidates and will be united in the second round.
Despite the denial, the Minas Gerais native is mentioned behind the scenes as a name desired by opposition allies. During the press conference, Cabo Gilberto stated that Zema is the “dream deputy” of Bolsonarism.
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The theme was reinforced by senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), who, when coming to Zema’s defense during a pre-campaign agenda in Mato Grosso, also made a political nod to the former governor.
— My solidarity with Romeu Zema, who is yet another victim of this militancy in the Judiciary — he said.
Flávio also stated that he saw an attempt at electoral interference by the Court. The criticism of the Court marked a change in the senator’s behavior, who had been avoiding attacks on the Judiciary:
— They try to frame us based on opinions and this ends up unbalancing the electoral dispute.
Flávio waves to the farm
The statements took place during the senator’s visit to Sinop, where he participated in the Norte Show, an agribusiness fair. At the event, he intensified his nods to the sector, with promises to resume credit lines from the Safra Plan with lower interest rates and less bureaucracy, in addition to defending a business environment more favorable to production.
Wearing a t-shirt with the slogan “agro is top”, Flávio made a typical campaign gesture, trying to reinforce identification with an electorate that, until recently, was seen as naturally aligned with Bolsonarism.
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As GLOBO reported, this scenario, however, changed with the entry of Ronaldo Caiado into the dispute. With a history in the sector and a good relationship with producers, Caiado started to share this space and stopped a following that Flávio’s allies took for granted.
The agenda in the state also had a clear symbolic component: the holding of the first pre-campaign motorbike, rescuing Jair Bolsonaro’s strong brand. The senator arrived in the state around 3 pm and went to the event accompanied by supporters.
