Brazil's PL chief Valdemar Costa Neto under fire for military candidacy pull‑back and vote‑soliciting remarks

Valdemar Costa Neto, president of the Liberal Party (PL), removed the party affiliation of active major Emmanuel Novaes, a pre‑candidate for a federal deputy seat from Roraima, after Defense Minister José Múcio Monteiro asked the party to act. Novaes had posted anti‑military messages targeting senior commanders and used the slogan “pelo fim dos melancias,” prompting the party to halt his pre‑campaign.

The Federal District branch of the Workers' Party (PT‑DF) filed a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office accusing Valdemar Costa Neto of illegally urging voters to remember specific candidate numbers – “Na urna, não se esqueçam: 222, 223; 222, 223” – for Bia Kicis and Michelle Bolsonaro during a PL convention. The PT‑DF argues the remarks exceed pre‑election campaigning rules and requests an electoral investigation and possible sanctions.