Flávio Bolsonaro considers outsider for election in MG and increases uncertainty about platform

The notes by senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) that suggested an alternative to the name of Mateus Simões (PSD) as Bolsonaro’s candidate for the government of Minas Gerais presented a new actor in the local dispute: the president of the Federation of Industries of Minas Gerais (Fiemg), Flávio Roscoe. In a document drafted by the presidential candidate, the vice-governor, supported by Romeu Zema (Novo) and Nikolas Ferreira (PL-MG), is cited as a person who could “pull down” the senator’s presidential project.

Within the PL, there are currently three options in Minas, a state seen as crucial for the national race: embarking on the candidacy of Simões, that of senator Cleitinho (Republicans) or launching a third name — among these, the most mentioned became Roscoe.

A businessman in the textile sector for more than three decades, Roscoe is in his second term as head of the state’s main industrial representation entity, a position he has held since 2018. Without an electoral trajectory, he gained prominence by acting as an interlocutor for the productive sector with the Zema administration, defending fiscal adjustment agendas and improving the business environment.

Behind the scenes of the Minas Gerais PL, the businessman’s name began to circulate as an alternative for his own candidacy capable of functioning as an internal balance point if the party is unable to converge either with the group linked to the state government or with Cleitinho’s candidacy.

The eventual candidacy is treated as an alternative plan and would depend on maintaining the political impasse in the coming weeks. After his notes were leaked, Flávio stated that the evaluations recorded in the document do not reflect his personal positions, but opinions and hunches presented by local leaders during political conversations.

Criticisms of the STF

Leaders assess that the business profile could reduce resistance between different wings of the right and prevent the party from being subordinated to Zema’s presidential project or deepening internal disputes within Bolsonarism.

In addition to the presidency of Fiemg, Roscoe holds the vice-presidency of the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) and presides over the entity’s Infrastructure Council, expanding its activities to the national level. Before that, he led the Textile Industries Union of Malhas de Minas Gerais (Sindimalhas) for 16 years and maintains participation in councils linked to credit, research and business training.

With a strong presence on social media, if you are a candidate, your opponents should explore the interview with the newspaper Folha de S. Paulolast year, in which he stated that “idiots are those who work with a formal contract”, blaming programs such as Bolsa Família for the supposed lack of labor in industries.

Fiemg, under his command, was amicus curiae (participated in the trial as an interested party) in the actions in the Federal Supreme Court (STF) that questioned the suspension of the

Three years earlier, the federation released a manifesto criticizing the Supreme Court and supporting themes defended by then-president Jair Bolsonaro. At the time, Fiemg asked the STF to review sanctions and the possibility of demonetization of websites and news portals accused in the fake news investigation. According to the entity, it was a fight for “legal and institutional security” and against the “restriction of freedom of expression”.

Division in local PL

The release of the notes made clear the division between PL leaders and parliamentarians in Minas. Part of the party agrees with the assessment attributed to the senator and maintains that Simões faces electoral difficulties and could compromise the performance of Bolsonarism in the state. In addition to the still limited performance in internal surveys, allies point out as the main obstacle his connection with Zema, currently treated as a possible presidential candidate and, therefore, a potential opponent of Flávio.

Today there is an internal dispute in the party between wings represented by Nikolas Ferreira, who resisted the attempts to be a candidate, and by state deputy Bruno Engler, historically allies, but who have different positions on the state succession. When contacted, Nikolas did not comment.

To the GlobeEngler stated that any candidacy for government supported by the party must make an explicit commitment to Flávio’s presidential candidacy.