Cotrim de Figueiredo faced a punishing day after he declined to rule out endorsing André Ventura in a potential second round of the presidential election and was further hit by an allegation of harassment that he denies. The refusal to categorically exclude an endorsement has sparked controversy because it complicates his positioning in a fragmented centre-left electorate and risks alienating voters who oppose Ventura’s platform. The harassment claim, regardless of its veracity, intensifies media scrutiny and could distract the campaign at a critical moment. Strategically, Cotrim may be seeking to keep options open for post‑first‑round negotiations, but the short‑term effect is likely to be reputational damage and increased pressure from opponents and allies to clarify his stance.