Overview
- Flávio Bolsonaro announced on X that his father designated him to carry the movement, and his office confirmed he will run as the Partido Liberal candidate against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2026.
- PL president Valdemar Costa Neto publicly endorsed the move, saying the candidacy was confirmed after Flávio visited Jair Bolsonaro in federal custody this week.
- Jair Bolsonaro remains imprisoned on a 27-year sentence for leading an attempted coup and is legally barred from holding office until 2030, removing him from the 2026 race.
- The choice sharpened internal strains on the right, including frictions involving Michelle Bolsonaro and sidelined expectations around São Paulo governor Tarcísio de Freitas as a market-favored alternative.
- Brazilian assets fell after the announcement, with the real down about 2% against the dollar and the Bovespa off roughly 3%, as analysts questioned Flávio’s capacity to assemble centrist alliances.