Overview
- Senator Flávio Bolsonaro announced on X that he will run in 2026, saying his imprisoned father designated him to carry the movement’s banner.
- PL president Valdemar Costa Neto said Jair Bolsonaro ratified the choice, and the senator’s office told AP he will compete and recently visited his father in prison.
- Jair Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year sentence for attempting a coup and remains barred from seeking office under separate electoral rulings.
- Brazil’s currency and stocks fell after the announcement, and analysts warned the pick could complicate efforts to build broader right-of-center alliances.
- Flávio’s message mixed religious appeals with sharp attacks on President Lula’s government, while the move heightened internal strains involving figures like Michelle Bolsonaro and sidelined other floated names such as Tarcísio de Freitas.