Romeu Zema faces Novo party split in Santa Catarina and denounces Bolsonaro ties

Local branches of the Novo party in Santa Catarina withdrew an invitation to pre‑presidential candidate Romeu Zema for a state meeting in Joinville, sparking criticism from municipal executives in Balneário Camboriú, Bombinhas, São José and Tijucas. The decision was described as a “unilateral posture” that ignored grassroots voices, and it deepened internal rifts over a potential alliance with the PL ahead of the 2026 elections.

During a visit to Recife, Zema told CBN that he “never was close” to Flávio Bolsonaro, adding, “I was closer to Bolsonaro because I was governor while he was president.” He also attacked the Supreme Court, calling it a “fire‑brand power” and referring to some ministers as “rotten fruit.” The comments came amid federal investigations linking Flávio Bolsonaro to banker Daniel Vorcaro and a alleged financial fraud scheme.