Ciro Nogueira Says Minister Apologized For Lula Remarks

Senator Ciro Nogueira stated that a government minister telephoned him with an apology after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva claimed that Nogueira’s political career was buried, Poder360 reported. The remarks followed a campaign event on October 11, 2026, on Avenida Paulista in São Paulo, where the president targeted the opposition politician during an appearance for local allies.

Avenida Paulista Campaign Event

President Lula made the provocative remark while presenting the reelected governor of Piauí, Rafael Fonteles, during a campaign rally. And the most important is that he buried the political career of Ciro Nogueira, Lula declared from the stage. Nogueira had lost his bid for Senate reelection on October 4, 2026, when Piauí voters awarded both available Senate seats to Fonteles allies Marcelo Castro and Júlio César. Fonteles secured his own reelection in the first round of voting with 70.90% of valid ballots.

Apology From the Ministry

Writing on his official profile on the social media platform X on October 11, 2026, Nogueira revealed that a member of the federal administration reached out to distance the government from the president’s tone. According to Nogueira, the unnamed minister attributed the harsh declaration to a principle of sclerosis affecting the president. Sobre a fala do presidente Lula hoje na Paulista se referindo a mim, um ministro dele me ligou pra se desculpar e falou que é por conta do princípio de esclerose, acho que ele tem razão, Nogueira wrote.

Union Progressista Support for Bolsonaro

Aside from his recent electoral defeat in Piauí, Nogueira serves as the national president of the Progressistas party and previously held office as Chief of Staff under former President Jair Bolsonaro. In the wake of the campaign remarks, Nogueira has advocated for the União Progressista federation—which unites the PP and União Brasil parties—to throw its support behind Flávio Bolsonaro for the upcoming presidential runoff election.