Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), pre-candidate for the Presidency of the Republic, released material on social media in which his wife, Fernanda Bolsonaro, defines him as “moderate Bolsonaro”. In the video, the parliamentarian talks about his relationship with his wife and daughters, and Fernanda says that Flávio was “re-educated” by her. After announcing his pre-candidacy, the senator has opted for a stance with speeches on identity issues and nods to female voters, in an attempt to reduce the rejection linked to his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro.
— It’s no wonder that you (Flávio) are a moderate Bolsonaro. I re-educated him — said Fernanda in the recording, soon followed by Flávio: — Some people started saying that I’m a vaccinated Bolsonaro. Looking at all this, God was preparing me for this moment.
In the video, released this Sunday, Flávio talks about how he met his wife and shows his routine with his daughters, two girls. Regarding her husband, in a campaign tone, Fernanda also says that “the Brazilian people can expect a president with a lot of determination to fight for this country and for Justice”.
Moderated image
The latest release of the Genial/Quaest survey, last week, showed that the share of Brazilians who see Flávio as as radical as his family members has fallen, despite it being a subtle change. 45% believe that he is no more moderate than Jair and his brothers, a drop from the 48% recorded in March. The portion that sees him as more moderate rose from 38% to 39%.
Soon after being announced as the name of the PL to Palácio do Planalto with his father’s approval, in December 2025, Flávio stated that he had the same principles as the former president, but highlighted that “no human being is the same as another”. At that point, the senator classified himself as a “centered Bolsonaro” with “several disagreements” with his father’s opinions.
— I have the same principles, I have Bolsonaro blood, but no human being is the same as another. At various times, he had one understanding, I had another. He didn’t want to take the vaccine (against Covid), I took two doses — said Flávio, in an interview with the newspaper “Folha de S. Paulo”. — Many people asked: “Bolsonaro, you have to be more moderate”. It is me. Bolsonaro more moderate.
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Shortly afterwards, at the beginning of March, during a Bolsonarist demonstration held on Avenida Paulista, Flávio directed part of his speech to address the escalation in cases of feminicide in the country and stated that it was necessary to carry out an “intransigent defense of women”. In his statement on the topic, he again addressed his relationship with his wife and daughters:
— I’m married, father of two little princesses, who are the reason I live. And I imagine the pain of these families who have a woman attacked or signed by a coward. And we will no longer tolerate that in this country. Women will truly be embraced and protected, without hypocrisy – declared the senator.
In the same month, however, Flávio was the target of criticism from the right after voting in favor of the bill that equates misogyny with the crime of racism. The text was criticized by Flávio’s brother, former federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro, the day before the vote, but was unanimously approved in the Senate. Opposition parliamentarians stated that the project “causes division” between men and women and seeks to “erode families”, and attributed the approval to the “fear of opposing” progressive agendas.
As GLOBO showed, in an attempt to get closer to issues traditionally associated with the left and rejected by Bolsonarism, Flávio even used International Women’s Day to criticize the administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT). At another point, he came out in defense of Brazilian player Vinicius Júnior, from Real Madrid and the Brazilian team, the target of racist attacks in Spain, but was once again criticized by supporters.
