My wish was for Republicans to support Lula, says leader in the Chamber
Silvio Costa Filho declared, in an interview with Backstage CNN, that his personal desire is for the Republicans to support President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) in the 2026 elections. The deputy highlighted, however, that the final decision will be up to the party, after a process of listening to the state benches.
When justifying his position, Silvio Costa Filho cited reasons for gratitude and political trajectory. "I learned in life that gratitude is reciprocated with gratitude and I am very grateful to President Lula, especially because I have been voting for President Lula since I was part of the student movement, still at university in my state of Pernambuco", he stated.
The deputy also highlighted that he considers himself a Lula supporter and that he has always maintained a close relationship with Lula.
Party must listen to states before deciding
According to Silvio Costa Filho, the Republicans have not yet defined their stance for the national scenario of 2026.
According to the deputy, Marcos Pereira should begin, from July, a listening process in the states to, in the end, make a decision. "There are people who defend the party's support for Flávio Bolsonaro and there are others who defend neutrality", he explained.
The deputy signaled that, if support for Lula is not viable within the party, neutrality would be a possible path, allowing each state to vote for the candidate they consider most appropriate.
Criticism of Flávio Bolsonaro
Silvio Costa Filho was emphatic in expressing his opposition to a possible candidacy by Flávio Bolsonaro for the Presidency of the Republic.
"My position is that I think it will not be good for Brazil if we have Flávio as president of the Republic, because it is very clear that he is not ready, prepared to be president of Brazil", he declared.
The deputy also cited advances in infrastructure, social programs and the strengthening of democracy as reasons for defending the continuity of the current government.
In the end, Silvio Costa Filho made a point of making it clear that his statements represent a personal position, and not an institutional one.
"I say this as Silvio Costa Filho, as a deputy from my state, I don't speak as the majority leader, I speak from the point of view of my CPF", he said. He reaffirmed that he defends Lula's re-election, but that he will respect the collective decision of the Republicans.
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Source: CNN