The crisis between former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro (PL) and senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) gained a new chapter this Friday (26). One day after the parliamentarian released a video apologizing for the statements that gave rise to the clash between the two, , interpreted by allies as a new hint to his stepson.
The publication comes after a week of public accusations being exchanged. During a telephone conversation, Michelle stated that she had talked about the PL’s support for Ciro Gomes’ (PSDB) pre-candidacy for the government of Ceará. According to her, the senator said it would be better for her to remain out of the party’s decisions as she did not understand politics.
The episode highlighted a history of disagreements between Michelle and the children of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL). Since before the family arrived at Palácio do Planalto, different disputes over political and family space have come to light in interviews, social media and public statements.
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Wear precedes the government
The most troubled relationship has always been with councilor Carlos Bolsonaro (PL-RJ). The discomfort between the two was already noticeable at Jair Bolsonaro’s inauguration ceremony, on January 1, 2019.
During the official parade in Brasília, Carlos occupied the back seat of the presidential Rolls-Royce alongside his father and Michelle, breaking the tradition of the vehicle being reserved only for the president and the first lady.
At the time, the gesture was interpreted by allies as a symbol of the influence that the councilor had over Jair Bolsonaro and the dispute for space within the nucleus closest to the then president.
In the following years, the relationship never consolidated. In an interview given in March 2025, Michelle stated that she had forgiven Carlos.
“We don’t talk to each other. (…) I don’t wish him any harm, but he’s a person I don’t want to live with.”
She also attributed part of the friction to the beginning of her relationship with Jair Bolsonaro, stating that Carlos would not have accepted the marriage and the age difference between the two well.
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Barbs involving Carlos’ daughter
The conflict appeared publicly again in July 2024. After congressman Nikolas Ferreira (PL-MG) published a photo of Jair Bolsonaro holding his daughter, Carlos commented on the post charging the father: “It’s cool for the guy to do that to his daughter and not mine!”
Michelle responded in the same post: “May God free and keep our Aurora from all envy and evil.”
The exchange of messages had repercussions among supporters of the former president and reinforced the perception that wear and tear remained even after the end of the government.
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The “unfollow” episode
Another moment that fueled speculation occurred shortly after Jair Bolsonaro’s defeat in the 2022 elections.
Michelle and the former president stopped following each other on a social network. The former first lady later stated that her husband’s profile was managed by third parties and denied any crisis in the marriage.
During that period, the management of Jair Bolsonaro’s social networks was under the responsibility of Carlos Bolsonaro, a role he left in April 2023.
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Family disagreements also involved Jair Renan Bolsonaro. During the 2022 campaign, Michelle declared that her brother, Eduardo Torres, was the only candidate supported by the family in Brasília and criticized people who tried to grow politically using the surname Bolsonaro.
Without directly citing Ana Cristina Valle, mother of Jair Renan and candidate for state deputy, the former first lady stated that there were “climbers” trying to climb the ladder using the family name.
Jair Renan responded by defending his mother. “My mother has the right to use my father’s surname, not out of vanity, but out of fact and right,” he wrote on social media.
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The friction between Michelle and Flávio began before the videos published this week. At the end of 2025, the former first lady criticized the alliance articulated by deputy André Fernandes (PL-CE) with Ciro Gomes in Ceará and defended that the party supported senator Eduardo Girão (Novo).
She stated that she had the autonomy to lead PL Mulher and signaled that she did not agree with certain electoral alliances, even when supported by Jair Bolsonaro. The statement provoked a reaction within the political group itself.
Eduardo Bolsonaro came to André Fernandes’ defense and stated that Michelle had been unfair in criticizing an agreement defined by the former president. Flávio also positioned himself in the same direction.
On Wednesday (24), Michelle released two videos narrating the discussion with Flávio. According to her, the senator was harsh on the phone, stated that she should stay out of the party’s decisions and minimized her participation in politics.
He also said that he had been the target of a coordinated campaign of attacks on social media.
“The group of malicious people coordinated from abroad continues to act and attack me every day.”
On Thursday (25), Flávio released a video stating that he never intended to offend Michelle.
“At no point did I offend or intend to offend Michelle. If at any point I did, I once again apologize.”
The demonstration, however, did not end the crisis. This Friday (26), Michelle shared biblical excerpts about lies and false testimony on her social networks. In one of the publications, he wrote:
“A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will perish.” In another, he reproduced the verse from Psalm 34:13: “Guard your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.”
Without mentioning names, the post was interpreted by allies as a new message to the senator and indicated that the conflict between Michelle and some of Jair Bolsonaro’s children remains far from a definitive solution, even on the eve of the start of the presidential campaign.
