The crisis opened by former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro when she made public her disagreement with her stepson Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) exposed divisions in Bolsonaroism and hindered the search for female voters, according to members of the senator’s pre-campaign for the Presidency. Privately, allies assess that the video episode, published the day before yesterday, hit one of the main pillars of the parliamentarian’s electoral project, which has been seeking to expand its presence beyond the most loyal core of support.
Since the beginning of the year, internal research has been guiding Flávio towards a strategy aimed at women, who represent more than half of the electorate. The Genial/Quaest survey released this month showed President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) with 41% of voting intentions in this segment, against 24% for Flávio (this difference is 39% to 29% overall).
It is at this point that Michelle is seen as an electoral asset that is difficult to replace. In addition to speaking more easily to female voters, the former first lady has commanded PL Mulher since 2023 and traveled the country structuring directories, identifying new leaders and strengthening the acronym’s presence among conservative women.
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An ally sums up the concern by saying that the episode affects precisely a constituency that Flávio “cannot lose under any circumstances”. In the opinion of this interlocutor, Michelle brings with her an important number of evangelical women. The religious segment also worries the senator. Last week, pastor Robson Rodovalho stated in an interview with GLOBO’s Jogo Político newsletter that “the evangelical lost trust in Flávio for not telling the truth about Vorcaro”, referring to the audios in which the pre-candidate asks the owner of Master for money for the biopic about his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro.
In the 27-minute video, Michelle said she was mistreated by Flávio, reaffirms her disagreement with the PL’s support for Ciro Gomes in Ceará and highlighted her work with women in the party. In the recording setting, she displays religious objects and biblical messages, reinforcing her relationship with the evangelical segment.
Surprise and irritation
Michelle’s speech saying she had been “mistreated” generated particular concern. A few hours later, Flávio published a video on social media in which he stated that he had never disrespected a woman.
— He (Flávio) was very harsh, disrespected me and mistreated me on the phone. I hadn’t done anything to 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 in the recording.
Flávio opens his response text by remembering that he has been “married for 16 years, father of two wonderful daughters and I have never disrespected, mistreated or humiliated a woman in my life”. A few minutes later, his wife, Fernanda, came to the defense of her husband, “a father dedicated to his two daughters”.
The shock caused by the video left the senator angry, according to allies, who say he was surprised. He told callers that he had never been disrespectful like that in public. The videos were published shortly before the team’s World Cup game and, while Brazil built a 3-0 victory, the senator divided his attention between phone calls and messages with advisors and people close to the pre-campaign. The group discussed the impact of the episode and the best strategy.
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Despite the discomfort, the senator avoided raising the temperature of the crisis with Michelle and spent much of the night listening to assessments on the best way to react. He told people close to him that he would deal with the case directly with his father. The former first lady has told allies that her husband was aware of the content of the video.
The talks resulted in an attempt to contain the crisis. Flávio apologized and invited his stepmother to participate in a campaign event aimed at women. Until last night, the former first lady had not indicated to her allies whether she would go, but she published on social media that she “is not angry with anyone” and that “there is no fight or competition”.
In addition to Michelle’s mobilization, the campaign had been building other gestures aimed at female voters. Flávio began to publicly defend the name of a woman on the ticket as a vice candidate and intensified speeches about greater female participation in command positions.
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Now, allies admit that the discussion about the vice president has gained new weight. Although the definition was only planned for a later stage of the campaign, interlocutors claim that the repercussion of the video reinforced the need to accelerate this choice. Michelle’s allies also believe that the video puts pressure on Flávio to talk and make room for her in the campaign.
Support and criticism
The video also exposed different reactions within Bolsonarism. On social media, impeached deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro reposted the speech of Flávio’s wife, who described her husband as a “light, affectionate, restored man and a father dedicated to his two daughters”. Other allies of the senator, such as impeached deputy Alexandre Ramagem and deputy Mario Frias (PL-SP), republished the statement posted by Flávio in which he denies having disrespected the former first lady.
The person who also replicated Flávio’s statement was the president of the PL in Ceará, deputy André Fernandes, who is on the opposite side to Michelle in the dispute in the state that caused the crisis to erupt.
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Michelle had the support of allies such as Senator Damares Alves (Republicanos-DF), who stated that the crisis reached this proportion because Flávio and his brothers did not make a gesture towards Michelle.
— She was truthful, firm, calm and clarified everything. They waited months for everything to be resolved and they didn’t take any steps towards it. But I think dialogue is now possible,” he said.
The governor of the Federal District, Celina Leão (PP), also took Michelle’s side in the conflict. “You shine! And that bothers a lot of people! It’s not easy being a woman in politics! You’re not alone! We’re all Michelle,” she wrote online.
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Left-wing parliamentarians commented on Michelle’s reaction, including deputy Maria do Rosário (PT-RS). The PT member took legal action against then-deputy Jair Bolsonaro for, in 2014, saying he would not rape her because she “doesn’t deserve it”.
“For consistency, I reaffirm that no woman should be despised,” he wrote.
The president of the PL, Valdemar Costa Neto, said yesterday that he will act to try to overcome the crisis. In a statement, the party leader declared that he will look for the two to talk in person.
“As soon as I speak personally with both of them I will speak publicly, but I can already say that I admire the courage of those who defend what they believe in. The PL remains focused on removing this government that is there and returning Brazil to the Brazilians, and nothing will be able to take us away from that focus”, he stated in a statement.
