After calling Flávio’s audio “unforgivable”, Zema says the episode is a “turned page”

After stating that the contact between senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) and former banker Daniel Vorcaro was “unforgivable”, former governor of Minas Gerais Romeu Zema (Novo), pre-candidate for the Presidency of the Republic, backtracked and said that the episode is a “turned page”. Last Wednesday, the Minas Gerais native recorded a video criticizing the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) after the release of an audio in which he asked the owner of Banco Master for money. The position resulted in friction for Zema among the Bolsonarist camp and also in Novo party directories in Paraná and Santa Catarina.

— I was very disappointed (with the audio), but I acted in accordance with my principles and values. And, for me, it is a turning point — said Zema, this Saturday, in a statement given to journalists during a party event in Belo Horizonte, as reported by the g1 portal.

At the time, Zema also considered that “there was no rupture” between the right in the dispute for the Palácio do Planalto. According to him, there is no doubt that everyone will be united in a possible second round against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT).

— We have several pre-candidates for the Presidency. There was no rupture. There was a harsh protest on my part, which I was disappointed with, but the scenario remains the same. His pre-candidacy, my pre-candidacy, and I’m sure that, in the second round, we will all be together against the left, against the PT — added the former governor.

‘Unforgivable’

The former governor classified the revelation of the audios sent by Flávio to Vorcaro as “a slap in the face to Brazil” and an “unforgivable” attitude. The reaction led to criticism of the former governor from people close to Flávio, such as former councilor Carlos Bolsonaro (PL-SC), former federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP) and the coordinator of the presidential campaign, senator Rogério Marinho (PL-RN). In posts on social media, they classified Zema as an “opportunist”.

— Flávio Bolsonaro, hearing you demanding money from Vorcaro is unforgivable. It’s a slap in the face to good Brazilians. 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 — said Zema in the recording.

‘Brother, I will be with you always’

The collection of resources made by Flávio Bolsonaro took place on September 8, 2025, at a time when those involved in the production were having difficulty honoring commitments for editing the film “Dark Horse”, in honor of Bolsonaro.

The resources requested by Bolsonaro’s son 01 and PL’s pre-candidate for the Presidency of the Republic are part of a negotiation involving Vorcaro and Flávio, in which the former would have committed to paying for part of the film’s production.

— It’s a very decisive moment here in the film and as there is a lot behind, man, everyone is tense and I’m worried about the opposite effect to what we dreamed of for the film — says the senator, in an audio sent to the banker.

Another contact was also made two months later, one day before Vorcaro was arrested for the first time in Operation Compliance Zero, which investigates an alleged billion-dollar fraud scheme, passive and active corruption, money laundering and crimes against the financial system.

“Brother, I am and will be with you always, there’s no such thing as half a conversation between us. I just need you to give me some light! Abs!”, Flávio wrote.

Contradictory versions

As GLOBO showed, parliamentarians and companies linked to the project began to present divergent explanations about the origin of the resources, the contracts signed and the structure used to operationalize the payments. The sequence of statements led the Federal Police (PF) to further investigate the fate of the money.

The main line of investigation attempts to clarify whether the amounts sent to the Havengate Development Fund LP, based in Texas and managed by Eduardo Bolsonaro’s lawyer, were used exclusively in the production of the film or whether they also helped pay for the former congressman’s stay in the United States.