Sergipe Pre-Candidate Draws Fire for On-Air Line: 'Women and Politics? Forget It'

Overview

• Valmir de Francisquinho, a former mayor of Itabaiana, said in a May 8 interview on Itabaiana FM that his wife does not get involved in politics when pressed on a possible 2026 bid.
• He later argued the quote was taken out of context and said his wife, lawyer Monique Cruz Santos, opts out of politics by choice.
• To rebut charges of sexism, he cited his record, saying he chose a woman as running mate in 2012 and that nine of 13 secretaries in his first term were women.
• State deputy Kitty Lima of the PSB condemned the comment and called for more women in decision-making roles in Brazilian politics.
• Press accounts differ on his party label, with G1 listing Republicanos and Estadão naming PL, as coverage also revisits TSE rulings that barred his 2022 run after a 2018 conviction for abuse of power under the Clean Record law.