The main news TV channel linked to the French ultra-right dedicated half an hour of its prime time this Monday (9) to a live interview with the senator (PL-RJ). The pre-candidate for President used the space to attack the president (PT) and the (Supreme Federal Court) and called the president of , .
“It is very important that all French people are aware that Brazil today does not live a full democracy. President Bolsonaro was condemned by his own enemies”, he stated, citing the Supreme Court minister several times.
The senator is in contact with personalities from the continent’s ultra-right. He posted a photo with European deputy Marion Maréchal, niece of Réunion Nacional (RN).
In the interview, Flávio made reference to suspected deviations in the INSS, mentioning Fábio Luís, known as Lulinha, the president’s son. “Brazil is currently facing serious accusations of stealing pensioners from our pension system, with President Lula’s own son being accused of embezzling money.”
Investigators are investigating whether there was any connection between Lulinha and the INSS lobbyist known as Careca. In an interview with UOL, last week, at Palácio do Planalto, that, if he has any involvement with the scandal of undue discounts for retirees, he must “pay the price”.
CNews is currently the most watched subscription news channel in France, with a similar profile to Fox News. The French broadcaster is accused by critics of not respecting the pluralism required by law of all French channels, by dedicating much more space to ultra-right politicians and ideas.
Presenter Christine Kelly stated on two occasions that Flávio is a “favorite” for October’s presidential election, although she noted that he appears in second place in the polls. The senator even stated that he appears “even in some polls ahead of the current president of the Republic”. The most recent surveys have pointed to Lula as the leader in all scenarios.
Flávio said he expected new presidents in both countries next year. “Brazil cannot handle another four years of an extreme left-wing government. Just like France, I believe, it cannot handle another mandate from a government of extreme incompetence like that of Emmanuel Macron, who has done so much harm to this country.” In fact, Macron cannot run for a third term in the French presidential election, scheduled for 2027.
The senator accused the French president of having gone to Brazil “just to take photos hugging trees in the Amazon.” Macron attended twice, in 2024, when he was photographed holding hands with Lula in the forest, and last year, at the environmental summit held in Belém.
Flávio even stated that “the Amazon region was preserved during President Bolsonaro’s government, and now under President Lula’s current government, the Amazon has suffered three consecutive years of record fires.” He did not present figures to corroborate the claim.
The interviewers only put pressure on Flávio on two occasions. In the first case, they had to ask twice why he removed the , in December. “President Trump knows that Brazil has a very strategic position in global geopolitics today. Therefore, he needs to have good relations with Brazil, regardless of who the President of the Republic is,” replied the senator.
Then, the journalists also asked two questions about , almost unanimously rejected by French politicians. The PL senator said the agreement was “an important step forward” that “will not strongly impact French rural producers”.
When talking about international politics, Flávio Bolsonaro made a mistake when he mentioned “the war that is happening between China and Ukraine, which also impacts the lives of all of Europe”. The conflict involves Russia.
The senator provoked smiles from interviewers when he cited, as proof of the influence of French culture in Brazil, the “wide avenues” of large Brazilian cities and words such as “buffet, bra and lipstick”.
