Overview
- PL president Valdemar Costa Neto said Jair Bolsonaro ratified Flávio’s bid during a prison visit, and the senator then confirmed his candidacy in a post on X.
- Jair Bolsonaro remains incarcerated and legally barred from office after a 27-year sentence for leading an attempted coup, leaving Flávio to carry the movement’s banner.
- Financial markets fell on the news, with the real down about 2% against the dollar and the Bovespa slipping roughly 3% to more than 4% in Friday trading, according to reports.
- Flávio framed his run with religious language and sharp attacks on Lula’s government, while family and party figures—including Eduardo and Michelle Bolsonaro—signaled support, and São Paulo governor Tarcísio de Freitas reiterated he does not intend to run.
- Allies say Flávio will broaden his national presence as the PL seeks unity, and a new Datafolha poll reports Lula leading the senator by 15 points in a hypothetical runoff and ahead 41% to 18% in a first-round test.