Caiado and Renan Take Indirect Shots at Cury’s Inexperience and “Depoliticized Voters”

Augusto Cury’s nine-point rise in the latest BTG/Nexus poll has drawn contrasting responses from two presidential contenders. Renan Santos attacked what he described as Cury’s appeal to “depoliticized voters”, while Ronaldo Caiado said he welcomed the result and offered a less confrontational response.

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I think depoliticized voters want to see influencers as Brazilian ambassadors, Caneta Azul in Congress and drones to combat femicide.

Santos criticized Cury’s proposals in a statement, citing plans to fight violence against women and appoint digital influencers to diplomatic posts. He also referred to musician Manoel Gomes, who is seeking a seat in Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies in São Paulo for Avante, Cury’s party. Santos said: "I think depoliticized voters want to see influencers as Brazilian ambassadors, Caneta Azul in Congress and drones to combat femicide."

He later played down Cury’s advance, describing such rises and falls as common in Brazilian politics. Santos said Cury’s support had low adherence and spread early in an election, and argued that the psychiatrist lacked a “militant base”.

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These phenomena happen in Brazilian politics. Names go up and down. Names with low support and low adherence sometimes spread at the beginning of an election.

Caiado, the PSD candidate and former governor of Goiás, struck a friendlier tone. “I want to applaud the result of this poll,” he said, adding that he hoped to be the candidate from the second tier who reached the top. He then emphasized his own political experience and criticized unnamed candidates for lacking preparation.

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I want to applaud the result of this poll. As I said, someone from the second tier will get there. I hope it is me.

Cury is a psychiatrist, writer and businessman known for books on self-help and mental health. He has declared more than 242 million reais in assets, the highest amount among the 2026 presidential candidates. He was one of three candidates to attend a Band debate on Aug. 23, later reversed a brief decision to withdraw, and became the last candidate interviewed by TV Globo on Saturday. During the debate, Cury and Caiado greeted each other as professional colleagues and said they would invite one another into their governments. Cury called Caiado “sheriff” and proposed a security ministry role, while Caiado praised Cury’s work on mental health.

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When you reach the presidency, you cannot learn to govern in the seat of the presidency of the Republic. It would be like being a full professor without having completed a master’s and doctorate.