Flávio Bolsonaro Declares 2026 Bid “Irreversible” as PL Mobilizes and Centrão Holds Back

Overview

• After visiting Jair Bolsonaro at the Federal Police in Brasília, Flávio said he will quit only if his father is “free and on the ballot,” insisting his candidacy is not for sale.
• The PL gathered state directors on Tuesday to formalize his pre-candidacy and to coordinate the campaign’s communication strategy.
• PP’s Ciro Nogueira and União Brasil’s Antônio Rueda raised doubts about his electoral traction and indicated their parties may decide closer to March 2026.
• São Paulo governor Tarcísio de Freitas pledged support to Flávio yet cited other opposition contenders and called the 2026 landscape undecided.
• Markets reacted negatively to the launch and his “price” remark, with the dollar up and stocks down, as most right-leaning governors avoided early endorsements.