The Novo party is attempting to build a pro-Romeu Zema faction to restore party unity following an internal crisis in Santa Catarina [1].
This effort comes as the party prepares for upcoming conventions. The internal rift threatens the cohesion of the party's national strategy to back Zema for the presidency, particularly within the southern states of Brazil.
The conflict centered on the Santa Catarina state directory, which said it opposed the presidential candidacy of Zema [1]. This opposition created a direct split between the regional leadership and the national party apparatus. Tensions have also been reported in Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul [1].
The instability was further intensified by Zema's relationship with the Liberal Party (PL). Some reports indicate that Zema described messages from Flávio Bolsonaro as "imperdoáveis," or unforgivable, which triggered a crisis with the PL [2]. However, other reports state that following internal pressure on May 27 [3], Zema eased these criticisms and said he supported Flávio Bolsonaro [3].
These contradictory shifts in rhetoric reflect the struggle within Novo to balance its own identity with the influence of Bolsonarista sectors [1]. The party is now focused on neutralizing the rebellion in Santa Catarina to ensure a unified front for the general election.
“The Novo party is attempting to build a pro-Romeu Zema faction to restore party unity.”
The friction within the Novo party highlights a broader struggle between the party's formal leadership and regional factions aligned with Bolsonarismo. Because the party's success depends on a unified coalition, the inability to reconcile the Santa Catarina directory could signal deeper fractures that may weaken Zema's viability as a consensus candidate for the right-wing electorate.
