The former governor of (Novo), pre-candidate for the Presidency of the Republic, classified the senator’s () negotiations with the former banker as “unforgivable”.
In a video published on his social networks, Zema stated that it was “a slap in the face of good Brazilians”. “Flávio Bolsonaro, hearing you demanding money is unforgivable,” said the pre-candidate.
“There is no point in criticizing the practices of Lula and the PT and doing the same thing. You need to have credibility to change Brazil,” he added.
Hours after the post on social media, Zema, whose name was mentioned as a possible vice-president of Flávio, stated that he continues to respect the senator, but says that the fact “raises suspicions”. “I always defend a careful investigation, no matter who it is. If someone from the Novo party does something wrong, I am most interested in the investigation moving forward,” he said in an interview with Sheet.
Zema is taking part in the so-called Brazil Week, in New York, and the day before he had joked that Flávio would be his vice-president.
Flávio’s involvement with Vorcaro was revealed by an Intercept report that shows that the senator and Vorcaro negotiated R$134 million to finance “Dark Horse”, a biographical film about former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL), the senator’s father.
Flávio admitted that he asked for money to produce the film about his father’s life and minimized the request and defined it as “a son asking for sponsorship”.
Zema states that it is difficult to assess the extent to which “someone in public life can maintain private business involving receiving resources in situations like this”.
“This needs to be unraveled and investigated in more detail. I have lived in Belo Horizonte for eight years, the same city as Daniel Vorcaro, and I have never had a meeting, call or message from him. I see this with concern, but it is still very premature to draw conclusions beyond what has been disclosed.”
After speaking out on social media, Zema was criticized by Eduardo Bolsonaro, who stated that the former governor did not listen to the other side before speaking out. The former governor said he is used “to receiving criticism.”
“My conscience is clear,” he said. “Brazil needs a president with credibility, moral stature and ethical commitment, without stains on the past. But it will be up to the people to decide.”
He also avoided making future predictions about Flávio’s candidacy. “A lot will depend on the investigations.”
The presidential pre-candidate, , also spoke about the subject and said that the senator “must respond to questions about the film’s financing and relations with the owner of Master”.
“Everything involving Master and millionaire figures needs to be treated with complete transparency with the population. Brazil is going through a moment in which society demands clarity in relations between public agents, companies and private interests.”
According to Intercept, at least R$61 million was paid between February and May 2025, in six installments. The publication cites bank receipts and disbursement schedule.
In audio obtained by the report whose authenticity was confirmed by SheetFlávio collects late payments from the ex-banker. “I’m embarrassed to keep demanding you, this is a very decisive moment in the film”, said the senator in the message.
In a conversation on November 16, the day before Vorcaro’s first arrest, Flávio wrote: “Brother, I am and will always be with you, there’s no such thing as half a conversation between us. I just need you to give me some light!”
Zema and Caiado compete with Flávio Bolsonaro for space in the right-wing camp for the presidential succession in 2026.
This Wednesday afternoon. “I met Daniel Vorcaro in December 2024, when the Bolsonaro government had already ended, and when there were no accusations or public suspicions about the banker. Contact was resumed when there was a delay in paying the sponsorship installments necessary to complete the film. I did not offer advantages in return.”
The case took the deputy to the minister of the STF, and to the (Attorney General’s Office), asking for the senator’s preventive detention.
The PT parliamentarian asked for the blocking of Flávio’s assets and the extension of the measure to the former deputy (PL) and the PL.
