Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) and pastor Silas Malafaia had lunch together, in São Paulo, two hours before the Bolsonarist event held this Sunday on Avenida Paulista. The meeting marked a rapprochement after weeks of noise caused by the evangelical leader’s public preference for other names on the right in the 2026 presidential race.
The conversation took place in a hotel close to the demonstration site, in an atmosphere described as “relaxed”. At the table, in addition to the two, there were other interlocutors from the conservative camp, amidst an intense movement of leaders who arrived in the capital of São Paulo for the event.
According to reports, the meeting served to “turn the page” on differences and reestablish a direct channel between the two.
A few hours later, at the top of the electric trio, in front of supporters, Flávio made a public gesture to the pastor and asked for support for his pre-candidacy for the Planalto, in a tone of deference.
— My friend pastor Silas Malafaia, because things often don’t happen the way we expect, but I believe so much that what is happening in Brazil is God’s project that I want to once again ask for your help, your advice. You are a teacher for all of us, your courage inspires us. Let’s rescue this Brazil together, pastor — he said.
The nod was interpreted by allies as calculated. The internal assessment in the PL was that the public distance with Malafaia could consolidate the reading that a relevant part of the evangelical electorate would not join the senator.
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To GLOBO, Malafaia confirmed the meeting and said that the conversation was informal. According to him, there was no explicit negotiation of electoral support.
— There was an informal moment. We talked at lunch, with other people at the table. There was no conversation about support. He was the one who, at the top of the trio, called me and asked for support — he said.
The pastor has publicly declared that he sees other names on the right with greater competitiveness to face President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2026, including the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), and the former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro. Still, he left the door open to support anyone who consolidates themselves in the conservative camp.
— If Flávio consolidates himself as a candidate, I will obviously support someone from the right. I was never omitted. Support will come at the right time,” he declared.
In the PL, the rapprochement is seen as part of a broader offensive by Flávio towards the evangelical leadership. On Friday, he was with pastor José Wellington Bezerra da Costa, from the Assembly of God of Belém, on a private schedule.
Party members say the lunch with Malafaia was the first move to rebuild personal trust and signal political respect. The next step would be to organize a visit by Flávio to the headquarters of the pastor’s church, in the Penha neighborhood, in Rio de Janeiro.
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According to the senator’s interlocutors, this visit was verbalized by Flavio during the conversation. Malafaia denies it.
The pastor, in turn, assessed that Flávio adopted a stance in line with the former president, praising different leaders from the conservative camp and avoiding internal attacks.
— He followed his father’s instructions. He spoke well about Zema, he called me up front. He was very humble, he called me teacher. That surprised me,” he praised.
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