Minas Gerais Governor Romeu Zema said the Novo Party was betrayed after it was not notified of a meeting between Flávio Bolsonaro and Daniel Vorcaro [1].
The statement highlights growing friction between Zema, a presidential hopeful, and the political circle of the Bolsonaro family as the 2026 elections approach. The lack of communication regarding high-level financial discussions for political projects suggests a rift in coordination within the right-wing alliance.
The dispute centers on a meeting between Senator Flávio Bolsonaro and businessman Daniel Vorcaro to discuss financing for "Dark Horse," a biographical film about Jair Bolsonaro [1], [2], [3]. Zema said on May 19, 2026, that the party was left in the dark about these arrangements [2], [4].
"If anyone was betrayed, it was the Novo Party," Zema said [3]. He said the party was betrayed specifically for not being warned about the contact between the senator and the businessman [1].
Flávio Bolsonaro said the meeting took place [2]. While some reports indicate the encounter occurred after the banker's first arrest in late 2025 [5], other sources do not specify the exact date of the meeting [1], [2], [3].
Zema's reaction underscores the sensitivity of the Novo Party's image and its internal requirements for transparency. The governor's public criticism marks a sharp tone in his dealings with the Bolsonaro camp, a relationship critical for his national aspirations.
“"If anyone was betrayed, it was the Novo Party,"”
This friction reveals a strategic tension between the institutional discipline of the Novo Party and the more informal, personal networking style of the Bolsonaro family. As Romeu Zema positions himself for a presidential run, his insistence on transparency serves to differentiate his leadership style while simultaneously testing the stability of his alliance with the Bolsonarista base.
