On October 3, 2026, businessman Pedro Parente announced that he will not vote for Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) in the 2026 presidential race. Parente, who served as Petrobras president and Minister of Casa Civil during the Fernando Henrique Cardoso administration, made his decision public via a LinkedIn post written in response to an article by João Moreira Salles, founder of the magazine piauí and a member of the family that holds a stake in Itaú.
Pedro Parente Responds to Magazine Article Over 2026 Presidential Dinner
The public exchange stems from an article published on October 1, 2026, on the piauí website by João Moreira Salles, which scrutinized the economic elite’s approach to Flávio Bolsonaro’s candidacy. Salles argued that parts of Brazil’s economic elite are willing to minimize democratic risks to align with the candidate, naming specific executives and business figures—including Parente—who attended an August 27 dinner with the senator.
In his LinkedIn post, Parente clarified that he attended the gathering of about 15 people to listen to a prospective presidential candidate firsthand. He noted that the meeting began with an explicit statement confirming the dinner did not represent formal campaign support or a request for assistance. Despite this disclaimer, Parente wrote that his perspective worsened during the event. “I went in with an opinion and left with a worse one. I will not vote for him,” Parente stated.
Did You Know? Pedro Parente previously served as Minister of Casa Civil under former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso and as the chief executive of state-controlled oil giant Petrobras.
Context and Disputed Interpretations of the August 27 Meeting
Parente pushed back against the magazine’s assertions, expressing surprise that his name appeared in the essay without any prior contact from the publication. He emphasized that his attendance was transparent, noting that journalists waited at the venue’s entrance and exit, and the complete guest list was publicly released.
While Salles interpreted the presence of prominent business figures as a sign of softening democratic guardrails among the elite, Parente argued that the essay misjudged his personal stances. Parente pointed to his regular column in O Globo, published every four weeks, where he previously wrote in June that polarization remains the primary obstacle to a national project and that room exists for a consensus candidate.
Pedro Parente explains why he attended the dinner
Why did Pedro Parente attend the dinner with Flávio Bolsonaro?
Parente stated that he accepted the invitation for the August 27 meeting because it offered a rare opportunity to hear directly from a potential future president in a small group setting of about 15 people.
What was the stated purpose of the August 27 meeting according to participants?
The conversation began with the explicit declaration that the dinner did not represent political support or a request for campaign assistance.
How did Pedro Parente express his views on the 2026 presidential candidate?
Writing on LinkedIn, Parente stated that he entered the dinner with an opinion and left with a worse one, explicitly declaring that he will not vote for Flávio Bolsonaro.
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