Bolsonaro Endorses His Eldest Son for Brazil’s 2026 Presidential Race

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has publicly thrown his support behind his eldest son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, as a potential candidate for Brazil’s presidency in the 2026 elections. This endorsement comes at a strategic moment for the Bolsonaro family and their right-wing movement, as the former president himself faces legal challenges that may prevent him from running again. In a recent interview with CNN Brazil, the elder Bolsonaro spoke warmly of his son’s qualifications, noting that Flávio possesses not only the necessary political experience but also the temperament required for the nation’s highest office. “He has a good head on his shoulders,” Bolsonaro remarked, highlighting his son’s decade-long experience in Rio de Janeiro’s state assembly before his current role as a federal senator.

The potential candidacy of Flávio Bolsonaro represents more than just a family’s political ambition; it signals a calculated effort to maintain the Bolsonaro brand in Brazilian politics despite mounting obstacles. The former president currently faces multiple investigations, including serious allegations concerning his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and questions about his role in the January 8, 2023 riots in Brasília, when his supporters stormed government buildings following his electoral defeat. These legal troubles have culminated in an electoral court ruling that bars Bolsonaro from running for office until 2030, making his son’s potential candidacy particularly significant for the continuity of their political movement. While Bolsonaro has appealed this decision, he seems to be preparing for a scenario where he must pass the torch to the next generation.

Flávio Bolsonaro, at 43, brings a different style to the table than his more combative father, often presenting himself as a more measured and diplomatic figure within the family’s political circle. His potential candidacy would come after nearly two decades in elected office, having begun his political career in Rio de Janeiro’s city council before advancing to the state legislature and eventually the Senate. Political analysts note that Flávio has carefully cultivated relationships across Brazil’s complex political landscape, which could serve him well in a presidential bid. However, he also carries political baggage, including past investigations into alleged money laundering schemes from his time as a state legislator – allegations he has consistently denied and which have not resulted in formal charges. These controversies would likely become campaign issues should he pursue the presidency.

The broader context for this potential candidacy is the evolving landscape of right-wing politics in Brazil following Bolsonaro’s 2022 defeat to leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The Bolsonaro family appears to be strategically positioning itself against potential rivals within the conservative movement, particularly São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas, who many see as a natural heir to Bolsonaro’s political legacy. By endorsing Flávio now, the former president may be attempting to consolidate family control over the movement he spearheaded. Political scientist Carlos Melo of Insper University in São Paulo suggests this is a calculated move: “The Bolsonaro family knows that in politics, vacuums don’t last long. If they don’t put forward their own candidate, someone else will claim leadership of the right.” This dynamic creates interesting tensions within Brazil’s conservative alliance, as various figures jockey for position in the post-Bolsonaro era.

The reaction to this potential candidacy has been mixed across Brazil’s political spectrum. Supporters of the Bolsonaro movement see Flávio as a natural continuation of his father’s legacy, albeit with a potentially broader appeal to moderate voters who may have been put off by the elder Bolsonaro’s more controversial statements and governing style. Critics, however, argue that this represents an attempt to establish a political dynasty rather than advancing genuine policy alternatives for Brazil’s future. The country’s left-wing parties have already begun preparing counterarguments, suggesting that Flávio would simply represent “more of the same” policies they associate with his father’s presidency. The business community appears cautiously interested, as Flávio has cultivated an image as being more market-friendly and pragmatic than some of his family’s more ideological positions.

As Brazil approaches the halfway point of President Lula’s current term, the political maneuvering for 2026 is already intensifying. Flávio Bolsonaro himself has responded to his father’s endorsement with measured statements, acknowledging the support while emphasizing that formal decisions about candidacies remain premature. “I’m honored by my father’s confidence,” he told reporters in Brasília, “but our focus now must be on building a strong opposition and developing solutions for Brazil’s problems.” Whether Flávio ultimately becomes the standard-bearer for the Bolsonaro movement or whether another conservative figure emerges remains one of the central questions in Brazilian politics. What seems increasingly clear, however, is that the Bolsonaro name will remain a powerful force in Brazilian politics for years to come, whether through the former president’s continued influence or through the next generation of his politically active family.