Wellington Fagundes rejects political labels in Mato Grosso race

Wellington Fagundes, a senator and candidate for the governorship of Mato Grosso representing the PL party, has publicly rejected political opponents' attempts to label him a ‘watermelon’—a term used to suggest a hidden alliance with left-wing parties.

Fagundes defended his political history by highlighting his participation in major legislative milestones, including the impeachment processes of Fernando Collor de Melo and Dilma Rousseff. He stated that his past cooperation with various administrations was driven by the need to secure resources and actions for Mato Grosso, regardless of the ruling party's ideology.

Positioning himself as a municipalist, Fagundes emphasized his track record of working for all 141 municipalities in the state, contrasting his reach with that of his rivals. He asserted his alignment with Jair Bolsonaro and stated his intention to continue providing resources to all 142 municipalities if elected governor.