The and the episode involving the are pointed out by members of the center as a new window of opportunity to press for a presidential ticket in 2026 headed by (Republicanos-SP) and with a name from the group itself as vice president.
Governors from the right-wing camp and the center and right-wing parties that they control have been trying for months to secure the ticket with Bolsonaro’s support, essential to guarantee the electoral viability of the venture. The former president’s children.
The last few hours, however, have revived the spirit in this direction, especially with Bolsonaro’s video confession that he wore an ankle bracelet and the statement, this Sunday (23), that he did so due to a “” caused by medication.
The senator (-RJ), who was trying to head the presidential ticket, was a central player in the decree of arrest signed by the minister, according to whom the vigil called by the senator had the secret intention of facilitating his father’s escape.
According to members of the right and the centrão, Flávio’s presidential claim, which had won the endorsement of , . The episode made the senator come into Moraes’ sights.
Flávio, Eduardo and Carlos try to maintain control over their father’s electoral estate, which includes public and behind-the-scenes accusations against members of the right, such as Tarcísio himself and the other governors who are seeking to run for President – Ronaldo Caiado (União Brasil-GO), Romeu Zema (Novo-MG) and Ratinho Jr. (PSD-PR).
Carlos and Eduardo, for example, went so far as to say on social media that these governors intend to launch themselves with Bolsonaro’s support, win the vote of their voters, but do nothing to resolve their judicial situation.
The struggle on the right is not limited to the head of the ticket, but also to the vice president. In the center’s dream world, Tarcísio would have as his vice-president someone from his own group, such as Senator Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI) or Senator Tereza Cristina (PP-MS). Recently, Bolsonaro was notified that his name would no longer be available for the position.
The former president has already told allies that he would support Tarcísio, but all these negotiations are marked by back and forth.
The reason for the centrão’s care in negotiations is the consensual assessment in the group that a break with Bolsonaro or a solo trip without his support would have a huge chance of failing at the polls.
Therefore, the main members of the group publicly criticized Moraes’ decision and showed solidarity with the former president.
Behind the scenes, there are promises directed to the family that if there are no serious obstacles to the group’s project, this would facilitate the work of trying to reduce the former president’s sentences in Congress, articulate a scenario for the Supreme Court to grant house arrest and, in the medium term, in case of victory in 2026, make general amnesty possible in the next term.
In recent days, even before the decree of Bolsonaro’s preventive detention, part of the centrão and the PL, and which would reduce Bolsonaro’s closed regime time from 6 years and 10 months to something around 2 to 3 years.
Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison for five crimes, as leader of the coup plot. Another seven defendants were sentenced to sentences ranging from 2 to 26 years in prison. In addition to them, hundreds of people were punished for the acts of January 8th.
Bolsonaro’s confession that he tried to violate his own ankle bracelet in the Chamber, according to members of the center. Initially, when all the details of the arrest had not yet been disclosed, the perception was that there was an exaggeration in Moraes’ decision and a proposal to reduce sentences would gain strength.
Given the release of the video hours later, the understanding of the center’s leaders is that there is no climate to vote on the proposal, which was already facing difficulties in Congress.
Allies of the former president say that the objective is to postpone as long as possible a hammer drop on 2026, arguing that, as soon as this happens, Bolsonaro will be put in the background once and for all. This is at a time of fragility and great restrictions on its political articulations.
The coming weeks and months will be decisive in defining the name of the right that will face the possible re-election attempt of (PT) – or of the names of the right, if the field does not reach an understanding and decides to launch names in a dispersed manner.
