Bolsonaro confirms support for Gilmar Mendes’ brother in MT municipal election

Former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) confirmed that he will support the pre-candidate for mayor of Diamantino (MT), Chico Mendes (União-MT), in this year’s municipal elections. The support was mentioned by the local media during a visit to the city on Monday (8) and marks an attempt to approach Minister Gilmar Mendes, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF).

Mendes is the pre-candidate’s brother and recently commented on actions involving Bolsonaro in the Court, including the investigation into the adulteration of vaccination certificates against Covid-19.

Bolsonaro participated in an act in Diamantino with Chico Mendes, and appeared in a recording eating pastel with him. Mendes classified the moment as “historic” for the city. To allies, as reported by local media, the former president confirmed his support.

“Our pre-candidate here is Chico Mendes”, said Bolsonaro in a speech in the city (see here). The column Between the linesfrom the People’s Gazettealso highlighted that there was a brief call between Bolsonaro and Gilmar Mendes, but the content of the conversation was not disclosed.

Through social media, Chico Mendes thanked Bolsonaro for his visit and stated that he is “proud to be a pre-candidate representing all those who believe that our city and our country can do much more. Together we will once again walk with our heads held high and bring back the our self-esteem.”

Bolsonaro’s support for Chico Mendes is seen as an attempt to get closer to Gilmar on the eve of the start of the trial of cases against him in the STF.

Responsible for intermediation between Bolsonaro and Gilmar Mendes, senator Wellington Faguntes (PL-MT) stated that “if there was any edge between the two, I believe that this [a aliança] represents an approximation,” he told Newspaper.

However, Chico Mendes denied that support for him is an “approximation”, saying that “it has nothing to do with it”. “I only work in politics and not in the Judiciary, the former president was here on a political agenda and decided to visit me, that’s all”, he added.

Bolsonaro did not comment on the articulation.

The city of Diamantino was once governed by the father and grandfather of minister Gilmar Mendes, and had 62.9% of valid votes for Bolsonaro in the 2022 election.