Former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) once again reinforced that he will be a candidate for president in 2026 and that, among the names on the table, he is the one with the greatest capacity to mobilize voters in the country. He counts on a reversal of ineligibility in court with the approval of Congress, which he believes has greater power than the Federal Supreme Court (STF).
“The candidate is me. If you take any candidate from the right, each one has their own qualities and defects. But what is a presidential campaign? It is necessary to have acceptance throughout Brazil”, he said in an interview with the newspaper The Globe published on Thursday (7).
He also reaffirmed that his candidacy has the support of Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos-SP) who considers him the “greatest leader”, although the governor of São Paulo is one of the most cited names to succeed him if he is unable to reverse the conviction of ineligibility.
“Before I die, politically there is no name. Ask Tarcísio what he thinks. He has said, the candidate is me. The continuation of my ineligibility is proof that democracy in Brazil is over”, he concluded in an interview with Folha de S. Paulo published this Friday (8).
Since his conviction to ineligibility, other right-wing politicians have tried to position themselves as an alternative or have been cited as his successors. In addition to Freitas, Romeu Zema (Novo-MG), Ronaldo Caiado (União-GO) – who frequently reiterates his candidacy in 2026 – and Pablo Marçal (PRTB-SP), who came in third place in the capital of São Paulo and points to the Palácio do Planalto as the next objective.
However, Bolsonaro says he does not plan to support Marçal, and that the former coach should look for another party if he wants to run for presidential succession.
“In the PL, there is no [espaço]. He can look for another party. The right has no owners. The right has leaders. And everyone who accredits themselves as a leader has the right to seek this vote”, he stated.
And he also denied possible support for Caiado, with whom he ended up having a clash in the election in the capital of Goiás this year. Bolsonaro supported co-religionist Fred Rodrigues (PL-GO), while the governor launched Sandro Mabel (União-GO), who won the dispute with strong criticism of the opponent’s attacks.
“In the second round, PT councilors said they supported Mabel. Someone built that support. So, a person building support with the PT is complicated. […] If you ally with the devil to win the election, then no”, he pointed out.
