Flávio Bolsonaro, 44, represents the state of Rio de Janeiro in the Senate, and in recent days confirmed that his father chose him to represent the Liberal Party in the presidential race. File Photo by Andre Borges/EPA
Brazilian Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, has begun to publicly project himself as a possible candidate for the presidency.
This comes at a time when the country’s right wing is seeking new leadership ahead of October elections.
Flávio Bolsonaro, 44, represents the state of Rio de Janeiro in the Senate, and in recent days confirmed that his father chose him to represent the Liberal Party in the presidential race.
“I confirm Jair Bolsonaro’s decision to entrust me with the mission of continuing our national project,” the lawmaker said in a social media post.
His father, Jair Bolsonaro, governed Brazil from 2019 to 2022 and consolidated himself as the main figure of the Brazilian right with a confrontational, conservative discourse focused on public security.
After leaving office, Jair Bolsonaro was barred from running for elections due to judicial rulings related to the 2022 elections and is currently imprisoned, keeping him out of the presidential race and opening a dispute over his political capital.
Support for Flávio Bolsonaro was reaffirmed by Liberal Party president Valdemar Costa Neto.
“Bolsonaro has spoken and the decision is made. Flávio is the name chosen to represent the party in the presidential contest,” Costa Neto told the Brazilian press.
The senator’s profile gained visibility following a recent international appearance in Jerusalem, where he spoke before a forum of conservative leaders. There, he opened his speech in English with an explicit statement of his aspirations.
“I speak here today not only as a senator, but as a candidate for the presidency of Brazil,” he said, according to reports by local media.
Beyond that trip, Flávio Bolsonaro has said he plans to travel to the United States in the coming weeks with the aim of strengthening ties with conservative sectors and international political allies.
His brother, Rep. Eduardo Bolsonaro, who maintains contacts with figures in U.S. conservatism, publicly expressed his support.
“I 100% support my brother’s candidacy,” he said, according to people close to him cited by the press.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, leader of the Brazilian left, leads early polls and is expected to seek reelection this year. His government faces a political climate marked by polarization, insecurity and economic pressures .In the first scenario of a survey released by Real Time Big Data, Lula appears with 39% of voting intentions, followed by Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) with 30%.
