Leaders and leaders of parties in the center maintain their preference for () as a candidate for President even after the senator (-RJ) announced, this Friday (5), that his father chose him as his successor for 2026.
For them, the governor would have a better chance of winning the race for Palácio do Planalto.
The assessment of politicians consulted by the report is that Tarcísio’s eventual candidacy could unite PL, , Republicans, and in the dispute against the re-election of (PT), while Flávio should not achieve a similar combination.
If Bolsonaro’s eldest son runs for Palácio do Planalto, the scenario designed by the center is one of atomization of candidates on the right — today the governors (União Brasil-GO), (Novo-MG) and Ratinho Júnior (PSD-PR) are mentioned as pre-candidates.
Privately, a group leader states that it is unlikely that Flávio will gain the support of all parties. He adds that polls indicate that Tarcísio would have a greater electoral advantage than one of the members of the Bolsonaro family, who face greater rejection.
The governor’s allies say he resists running for Planalto in a scenario of Lula’s competitiveness and fights in the Bolsonaro camp, especially in the former president’s clan. He would only accept the dispute, they say, if there was unity.
Some politicians reacted with skepticism to the senator’s choice, classifying the announcement as a strategy to maintain political relevance and cohesive activism now that Bolsonaro is serving a sentence in a closed regime for an attempted coup d’état, in addition to being ineligible since 2023.
According to this reading, Flávio would not maintain his candidacy until the end. The senator’s term ends in 2026.
Furthermore, choosing more than six months before the candidates’ registration period in 2026 could contribute to the senator’s exposure, susceptible to attacks from opponents.
In 2021, the (Supreme Federal Court) annulled the evidence in the rachadinha case, which implicated Flávio e, accused of being the operator of the scheme in the office of the then state deputy.
As shown by Sheetright-wing congressmen and Flávio’s allies claim that Bolsonaro’s arrest made his son come into the sights of the minister, of the STF (Supreme Federal Court). The vigil called by “son 01” was mentioned by the court minister in the arrest order for the former president.
Without mentioning Flávio or Tarcísio, Antônio Rueda, president of the federation that brings together the two main acronyms of the center, União Brasil and PP, criticized the polarization, indicating that the choice of someone from the Bolsonaro family could intensify the confrontation and harm the attempt at unification.
“The latest events only reinforce what we have always defended: in 2026, it will not be polarization that will build the future, but the ability to join forces around a serious, responsible project focused on the real interests of the Brazilian people,” he said.
The governor of Goiás, Ronaldo Caiado, declared that he respects Bolsonaro’s decision, but reaffirmed that his pre-candidacy for the Presidency is maintained.
“He has the right to seek to make Senator Flávio Bolsonaro’s candidacy viable. For my part, I remain a pre-candidate for president and I am convinced that next year we will remove the PT from power and return Brazil to the Brazilians,” he stated.
The celebration surrounding Flávio’s candidacy was restricted to the closest allies of Bolsonarism, such as Senator Damares Alves (Republicanos-DF), a friend of the former president and the former first lady (PL).
“I will follow the decision made by President Bolsonaro, whatever it may be. I, in particular, really like Flávio. He is my dear friend,” the former minister told the reporter.
In the same vein, the general secretary of the PL, senator Rogério Marinho (RN), said that Flávio’s candidacy was “guided” by Bolsonaro.
“We will be together in the construction of a project that represents the values of the Brazilian people who love our flag, summarized in respect for the family, religious freedom, free markets and freedom of expression. Flávio, count on me”, he stated, in a statement.
