✓ verbatim from the press
Former First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro (PL-DF) promised on Monday, June 22, 2026, to publish a video criticizing former Ceará Governor Ciro Gomes (PSDB), after he stated in an interview with Veja magazine that Lula and Jair Bolsonaro "are strictly the same." "It was never 'to remove the PT,' but rather for power projects. I've already recorded a video explaining what happened in Ceará and will publish it soon," Michelle wrote in a post on X. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"Nunca foi 'para tirar o PT', e sim por projetos de poder"
"Já gravei um vídeo explicando o que aconteceu no Ceará e vou publicá-lo em breve"
In the Veja interview, Ciro stated that "aside from aesthetics, the two are strictly the same: floating exchange rate, primary surplus, inflation target, savage Central Bank autonomy, Petrobras international price parity policy, pension reform, fraudulent privatization." The PSDB politician also ruled out the possibility of supporting Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) in the presidential race, despite the alliance with PL for his pre-candidacy for the Ceará governorship. "Supporting Flávio Bolsonaro is not under discussion. If it were, we wouldn't have even sat down to talk about the regional alliance," he stated. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"Fui candidato a presidente disputando com Lula e Bolsonaro. Tirando a estética, os dois são rigorosamente iguais: câmbio flutuante, superávit primário, meta de inflação, autonomia selvagem do Banco Central, política de paridade de preço internacional da Petrobras, reforma da Previdência, privatização fraudulenta"
"Apoiar Flávio Bolsonaro não está em discussão. Se estivesse, nós não tínhamos nem sentado para conversar sobre a aliança regional"
Ciro's statement reproduces a positioning pattern the former minister had already adopted in previous cycles. In an interview with Jovem Pan on August 25, 2022, Ciro stated that "strictly speaking, they represent the same type of management, economy and political management" and that "both are very bad people from the point of view of economic management, both gave centrality to physiologism and corruption," according to a CNN Brasil report. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Se você reparar, com todas as diferenças de personalidade, eu tenho clareza e humildade para saber que Lula e Bolsonaro são pessoas diferentes. Mas, a rigor, eles representam o mesmo tipo de gestão, economia e gestão política [...] Ambos são pessoas muito ruins do ponto de vista da gestão econômica, ambos concederam centralidade à fisiologia e à corrupção."
Michelle Bolsonaro was responsible, last year, for trying to undo the Ceará PL alliance around Ciro Gomes, traveling to the state to support Senator Eduardo Girão's (Novo-CE) candidacy for state governor. She was overruled shortly thereafter by her three oldest stepsons — Flávio, Carlos and Eduardo Bolsonaro — who said they believed in the alliance to defeat the PT in the state. The situation caused discomfort for Michelle, who has since not engaged in Flávio's presidential campaign, despite being one of the main voices of the PL currently. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"A ex-primeira-dama foi responsável por dar início a um dos principais rachas entre os bolsonaristas ao tentar desfazer a aliança do PL do Ceará em torno de Ciro Gomes no ano passado. Ela foi ao estado para apoiar a candidatura do senador Eduardo Girão (Novo-CE) para o governo estadual e dizer que Ciro não poderia ser o nome do bolsonarismo, por todas as críticas que ele já havia feito ao clã. No entanto, logo em seguida, ela foi desautorizada por seus três enteados mais velhos, Flávio, Carlos e Eduardo Bolsonaro, que disseram acreditar na aliança para derrotar o PT no estado."
"A situação gerou grande incômodo para Michelle, que já não tinha boa relação com Flávio e, desde então, ela não tem se engajado na campanha presidencial dele, mesmo sendo uma das principais vozes do PL atualmente."
Ciro Gomes stated in an interview with Veja magazine that Lula and Bolsonaro 'are strictly the same,' comparing their economic policies.
Ciro Gomes ruled out supporting Flávio Bolsonaro in the presidential race, despite the alliance with PL in Ceará.
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (3)
Michelle Bolsonaro promised to publish the video 'soon on Instagram,' according to O Povo, while Veja mentions only 'soon' without specifying the platform.
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What is the exact content and expected publication date of the video promised by Michelle Bolsonaro?
Why it's still unknown: Michelle only announced that she recorded the video and will publish it 'soon,' without specifying a date or content details.
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What is the official position of the national PL party regarding the alliance with Ciro Gomes in Ceará after the statement equating Lula and Bolsonaro?
Why it's still unknown: The consulted sources report only Michelle Bolsonaro's reaction and previous statements by Bolsonaro's sons, but do not cover an institutional party position after the Veja interview.
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Was there an official reaction from the Bolsonaro family (Flávio, Carlos or Eduardo) to Ciro's new statement equating Lula and Bolsonaro?
Why it's still unknown: The reports cover only Michelle's reaction and mention that Bolsonaro's sons had overruled Michelle last year, but do not record their positioning after the recent Veja interview.