Fábio Wajngarten's Turbulent Exit from the PL and the Right's Internal Challenges

Explore the heated debate over Lula's proposed social media regulation in Brazil, often compared to China's internet control. Analyze how incidents like Janja's deleted posts and Fábio Wajngarten's ouster highlight growing censorship fears and authoritarian tendencies across Brazil's political spectrum.

Fábio Wajngarten's Turbulent Exit from the PL and the Right's Internal Challenges

The Brazilian political scene was recently shaken by the "dismissal" of lawyer and former Communications Secretary of the Bolsonaro government, Fábio Wajngarten, from his roles related to former President Jair Bolsonaro's communication within the Liberal Party (PL). The episode, which resembles a de facto expulsion more than an amicable parting, exposed internal rifts within the Brazilian right and raises questions about strategies for the 2026 elections.

The decision to remove Wajngarten, formalized by the PL's national president, Valdemar Costa Neto, on May 20, came to light after the leakage of compromising messages. In conversations from January 2023 with Lieutenant Colonel Mauro Cid, then Bolsonaro's aide-de-camp, Wajngarten criticized the possibility of former First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro being launched as a presidential candidate in 2026, should Jair Bolsonaro become ineligible. In the message exchange, Mauro Cid even wrote "I prefer Lula," to which Wajngarten replied "Same."

The revelation of these messages, obtained by the Federal Police from forensics on Mauro Cid's cell phone, caused an earthquake behind the scenes of the PL. The party's leadership, and especially Michelle Bolsonaro herself, considered Wajngarten's conduct "disloyal" and a "betrayal." Sources close to the Bolsonaro family indicated that the former First Lady, who has taken on a growing prominence as president of PL Women and a key figure for 2026, was the driving force behind Valdemar Costa Neto's decision.

Despite attempts by Jair Bolsonaro to downplay the incident, acknowledging Wajngarten's mistake but defending his wife, the internal crisis is deepening. "She put the house in order, and people didn't like it. But that doesn't justify this exchange of messages, especially in January 2023, when I was still eligible. One said nonsense, the other agreed," Bolsonaro told the Metrópoles portal.

Wajngarten's dismissal generated divergent reactions among Bolsonaro's allies. Pastor Silas Malafaia, a figure close to the former president, defended Wajngarten, calling the decision "cowardice" and criticizing "people who have no memory of good things." For Malafaia, the lack of recognition for Wajngarten's contributions over the years was a symptom of ingratitude in the political sphere.

Freedom of Expression and Ideological Coherence

Fábio Wajngarten's case raises a crucial question about freedom of expression, a pillar often championed by the Brazilian right, especially in opposition to the left-wing government's proposals for social media regulation. While the right's discourse frequently warns of the dangers of censorship and state control over online speech, the punishment of Wajngarten for private messages expressing a divergent opinion—even if about figures within his own political camp—seems to contradict this staunch defense.

The reprimand against Wajngarten, motivated by perceived "disloyalty" in a private conversation, suggests an internal intolerance for dissent. This can be interpreted as a form of "ideological policing" or blind loyalty, which, while not state censorship, imposes limits on individual expression within a group. The irony is that the same political wing that vehemently criticizes any governmental attempt to "silence voices" through regulation appears unwilling to tolerate the free manifestation of thought within its own circle, especially when that manifestation deviates from the official line or the interests of prominent figures.

The Dilemma of Liberty Amidst Polarization

What is observed in the Brazilian political landscape is a worrying dilemma for freedom of expression. On one hand, we have the left-wing government that, under the pretext of combating disinformation, proposes social media regulation which, as previously discussed, many critics believe dangerously resembles a model of information control (like China's), capable of silencing critical voices—evidenced, for example, by the AGU's intervention to remove posts about First Lady Janja.

On the other hand, the incident involving Fábio Wajngarten demonstrates that the right itself, which positions itself as a guardian of freedom of expression, can apply its own forms of censorship or retaliation against opinions it deems "disloyal." This internal intolerance, though different in nature from state censorship, contributes to an environment where divergence is punished, and the genuine expression of ideas is discouraged in the name of unity or political loyalty.

This suggests that Brazilian citizens are, in a way, surrounded by potential authoritarianism. Whether by the heavy hand of the state, which seeks to "regulate" what can be said in the name of combating disinformation, or by the pressure of political groups that demand ideological conformity from their members and allies. In both cases, the essence of freedom of expression, which presupposes the right to express unpopular or divergent opinions without fear of retaliation, appears to be under constant threat. True democracy requires that freedom of expression not only be a shield against state censorship but also a value respected and encouraged within political groups themselves, allowing for debate and the plurality of ideas.

Fábio Wajngarten's case exposes the complex dynamics of power and loyalty within Bolsonarism and the Liberal Party. With Bolsonaro's ineligibility and Michelle's rise as a potential name for 2026, internal struggles for space and influence are intensifying. The departure of such a close ally as Wajngarten, due to issues of loyalty to Michelle's figure, suggests that the right's path to the next presidential elections will be paved with more reorganizations and, possibly, new internal rifts. The ability of the PL and Bolsonarism to maintain unity and define clear leadership for 2026 will be decisive in the face of such turbulence.

RESUME:

• What happened: Fábio Wajngarten was "demitido" (dismissed/fired) from his role in the PL party's communication, specifically for former President Jair Bolsonaro. While not explicitly termed "expulso" (expelled) in all headlines, the context implies a forceful removal from his significant party function.

• When: The dismissal occurred around May 20, 2025 (4 days ago from current date May 24, 2025).

• Why: The primary reason was the leakage of messages exchanged between Wajngarten and Mauro Cid (Bolsonaro's former aide-de-camp). In these messages, from January 2023, they criticized the possibility of Michelle Bolsonaro running for president in 2026 if Bolsonaro became ineligible. Specifically, Cid wrote "Prefiro o Lula" (I prefer Lula) in response to Michelle's potential candidacy, and Wajngarten agreed with "Idem" (Same).

• Who decided: The decision was made by Valdemar Costa Neto, the national president of the PL, reportedly at the request or strong influence of Michelle Bolsonaro, who considered the messages "disloyal" and a "betrayal."

• Reactions: Bolsonaro himself minimized the event, defending his wife but acknowledging it as a "mistake" by Wajngarten. Allies like Pastor Silas Malafaia criticized the dismissal, calling it "cowardice" and a lack of "memory of good things." The incident exposed internal divisions within the Bolsonaro camp and the PL, especially as Michelle Bolsonaro gains political prominence.

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