Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP) criticized the Partido Novo and its members, signaling a political rupture within Brazil's right-wing coalition.
This conflict highlights a deepening divide among conservative forces as they compete for influence and legislative seats. The friction centers on the fight for Senate vacancies in São Paulo, where strategic alliances are essential for victory but are currently strained by personal and political rivalries.
The dispute intensified during the weekend of May 10-12, 2026 [1]. The tension has manifested as a series of public exchanges involving Ricardo Salles and Romeu Zema, both associated with Partido Novo. These disagreements reflect a broader struggle for leadership and protagonism within the bolsonarista movement.
Reports indicate that the rift began with attacks from Ricardo Salles directed at Eduardo Bolsonaro regarding the Senate race [1]. In response, Eduardo Bolsonaro said Salles is a meme [2]. This exchange underscores the volatility of the current alliances in São Paulo, where candidates from the same ideological spectrum are now clashing openly.
The conflict is not merely a personal spat but a systemic disagreement over how the right should organize its electoral strategy. While the bolsonarista wing seeks to maintain a centralized leadership, members of Partido Novo have pushed for different approaches to governance and campaigning [3].
This internal fracturing comes at a critical time for the conservative bloc. The struggle for Senate seats in Brazil's most populous state often serves as a bellwether for national political trends. The inability to maintain a united front may impact the ability of right-wing candidates to secure a majority in the upper house [3].
Eduardo Bolsonaro's public condemnation of Partido Novo suggests that the bridge between these two factions may have collapsed. The shift from private negotiation to public insults indicates that the parties are now prioritizing individual political survival over collective coalition goals [2].
“Eduardo Bolsonaro said Salles is a meme.”
The public fallout between Eduardo Bolsonaro and Partido Novo reveals a fragility in the Brazilian right's unity. By shifting from a unified bloc to competing factions, the conservative movement risks splitting its vote in São Paulo, potentially handing a strategic advantage to opposition candidates in the Senate race.
