Son of former president Jair Bolsonaro states, however, that he will continue until the end of the electoral race; Flávio Bolsonaro should increase meetings with evangelicals
Allies of the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), still believe in a retreat from the pre-candidacy of senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) for the Presidency of the Republic. In the opinion of those close to us, even after the handwritten letter written by former president Jair Bolsonaro approving his son’s name, the expectation is that from February onwards the scenario will begin to change.
The understanding is that the month of January will still be “dead” politically in this game of musical chairs. The movement is expected, mainly, from the end of February and beginning of March – which would give Tarcísio a tight deadline since, if he runs for the position at Palácio do Planalto, he will have to resign at the beginning of April.
The analyzes at Palácio dos Bandeirantes are mainly based on the view that the movement to bring Flávio into the spotlight had two main objectives: maintaining the legacy of the Bolsonaro family and responding to militancy. How to talk about strategy. For a high-ranking member of state management, the letter written by Bolsonaro is an “act of political success, with minimal chances of victory” and “in defense of the family [Bolsonaro]and not the country.”
This same source understands that the launch of Flávio’s presidential candidacy may have been a way of giving him more visibility, putting his name in the media, to strengthen his own campaign for re-election to the Senate. The reading is that re-election was no longer being seen as “guaranteed”, since governor Cláudio Castro (PL), who could also run for the position, gained news and popularity after the mega police operation in the Alemão complex that guided the debates on Public Security in the country.
It also continues to be cited as an obstacle. There are those who even say in the corridors that it could become bigger than its father. The senator, however, has not been bothered by the criticism. After a round of meetings with businesspeople, authorities and members of the financial market in recent weeks, in which he himself called himself a “soft” Bolsonaro, Flávio plans, for the beginning of 2026, a series of participations in services and agendas with the evangelical public – in addition to traveling around Brazil.
He must continue to present himself to this audience as a more “moderate” version of the family. In the last week before the end of the year, the senator has already been to two services.
For this reason, even without discarding the national project, the assessment around Tarcísio de Freitas is that it is time to wait. No moves should be made behind the scenes.
*This text does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Jovem Pan.
