Alcides Fernandes blames Michelle Bolsonaro for PL power fight in Ceará

On June 26, state deputy Alcides Fernandes of the Liberal Party (PL) in Ceará released a roughly 12‑minute video responding to criticism from former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro. In the recording he accused her of interfering in the party’s internal politics and of trying to shape the PL’s Senate candidacy.

Fernandes asserted that Michelle had, in a closed April meeting, agreed to back an alliance between the PL and Ciro Gomes – a stance he says contradicts her later public comments. He also referenced an unpublished poll, reportedly commissioned by PL legislator Priscila Costa, that projected his Senate bid could achieve 51 % support with backing from Jair Bolsonaro and PL federal deputy André Fernandes, versus 31 % without that support. He challenged the party’s national leadership, including Valdemar Costa Neto, to respect the state branch’s decisions, and cited a statement attributed to senator Flávio Bolsonaro describing Michelle as a “turned‑page” in the group’s decisions.