Romeu Zema, the former governor of Minas Gerais and a pre-candidate for the Novo party, said he may support Flávio Bolsonaro in a possible second-round presidential runoff.
This signal of alignment suggests a consolidation of right-wing forces against the Workers' Party (PT), prioritizing the defeat of the left over internal ideological or legal disputes.
During an interview on radio CBN on July 8 [1], Zema said that he intends to back whichever candidate is positioned to face the PT in the final dispute. He said that his primary objective is to ensure the PT does not return to power, regardless of the specific opponent.
"I would rather vote for a glass than vote for the PT," Zema said [2].
Zema's willingness to support Flávio Bolsonaro comes despite previous friction regarding the "Caso Master" legal matter. When questioned about the potential conflict between his criticisms of that case and his political support, Zema said he does not see a contradiction in criticizing the legal situation while supporting Flávio in a second-round vote [2].
Zema further clarified his position by stating, "I will support whoever faces the PT in the dispute" [3]. This approach positions the Novo party pre-candidate as a strategic ally for the right, provided the goal remains the exclusion of the PT from the presidency.
By framing his support as a necessity of the runoff system, Zema avoids a full endorsement of Bolsonaro's legal history while maintaining a clear political boundary against the left.
“"I would rather vote for a glass than vote for the PT."”
Zema's comments indicate a pragmatic shift toward a 'big tent' right-wing coalition. By prioritizing the defeat of the PT over the specific flaws of a candidate, Zema is signaling to the electorate and other party leaders that the ideological battle against the left outweighs the legal or personal controversies surrounding the Bolsonaro family.
