Flávio uses controversy in Sapucaí to speak to evangelicals and the center

Amid the digital mobilization of right-wing parliamentarians against the “preserved neoconservatives” wing of the Acadêmicos de Niterói parade, senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) turned the episode into a virtual platform.

In a publication entitled “Lula mocks the people!”, the pre-candidate for Planalto associated the presentation at Marquês de Sapucaí with disrespect for the Christian faith and the misuse of public resources, directing the speech to an audience that goes beyond the traditional Bolsonarist base.

In the text, Flávio stated that “Carnival is culture, it is tradition and deserves respect”, but criticized what he classified as the use of public money “to attack the faith of millions of Brazilians while politicians applaud from the box”.

By mentioning “more than 50 million evangelicals, in addition to millions of Catholics and Christians”, the senator sought to consolidate bridges with religious voters, a strategic segment in any presidential dispute.

The video released by the parliamentarian reinforces this strategy. He says he is addressing those who “are neither supporters of Bolsonaro nor Lula” and questions whether the public would have been satisfied to see “their tax money being used to campaign in advance for Lula”.

In another passage, he asks whether Christians would have felt offended by being portrayed “inside a tin can”. The reference is to the section of the parade that represented conservatives as food cans.

The speech also includes criticism of the country’s political conduct. “Do you want to continue living in a country where trickery is above the law?”, says the senator, associating the episode with a broader scenario of injustice and political favoritism.

The speech mixes defense of religious values, legal challenge and questioning about supposed advance propaganda.

The movement occurs in a context in which research indicates high rejection of both Flávio and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) among potential candidates for the Planalto.

To advance beyond the ideologically aligned electorate, both depend on the centrist vote. By choosing the Carnival controversy as the narrative axis, the senator tries to dialogue with this audience based on sensitive topics such as faith, use of public resources and equality in the application of the law.

The speech seeks to expand the reach of Flávio’s name among Christian segments that traditionally have decisive weight in national disputes. At the same time, it remains in tune with the militancy that reacted to the parade and boosted the agenda on social media.