The Liberal Party of Brazil (PL) proclaimed this Saturday Senator Flávio Bolsonaro as its candidate for the presidential elections in October, in which he will seek to prevent the re-election of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
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The official announcement was made during a party convention in an annex to the Pacaembu stadium, in São Paulo, before more than a thousand supporters and political leaders, where even Argentine President Javier Milei arrived.
The president of the PL, Valdemar Costa Neto, assured that “Flávio was chosen by his father to continue the project that already worked. You are the candidate in the name of the country and millions of Brazilians, may God illuminate your path.”
The senator, 45 years old, will face Lula, who at 80 years old will seek a fourth non-consecutive presidential term. Flávio Bolsonaro has not yet announced who will be his running mate as vice-presidential candidate.
Flávio was anointed as political successor by his father after the former president was disqualified from competing electorally. Jair Bolsonaro is under house arrest for his responsibility in a plot to prevent Lula‘s inauguration after the 2022 elections.
The Supreme Court also recently prohibited Flávio from visiting his father for three months, within the framework of restrictions imposed on the former president for the direct or indirect use of social networks for political and electoral purposes.
During the convention, supporters wore green and yellow jerseys of the Brazilian national team, symbols adopted by Bolsonarism. Signs with messages alluding to “families,” “children,” and “freedom” were also installed at the venue, in addition to others that labeled Jair Bolsonaro as a victim of “censorship.”
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Flávio Bolsonaro’s candidacy comes in a tight electoral scenario, although marked by a drop in his support in recent weeks.
According to a Datafolha poll released this Friday, Lula would obtain 48% of preferences compared to 43% for the PL candidate in a hypothetical second round. Months ago, Flávio had managed to tie the current president after narrowing a 15-point difference.
The senator has faced questions about his relationship with banker Daniel Vorcaro, arrested for alleged financial fraud. In May, Intercept Brasil revealed messages in which Flávio requested money to finance a film about his father. The Supreme Court ordered an investigation into the contributions linked to the audiovisual project.
He also starred in a family dispute with his stepmother, Michelle Bolsonaro, who publicly accused him of having humiliated and mistreated her during a phone conversation. The senator later released a video to apologize, a gesture that was accepted by the former first lady.
The presidential campaign will also be crossed by commercial tensions between Brazil and the United States. Lula has accused his rival of acting as a “traitor” for supporting measures promoted by Washington against the country, while Flávio asked the Donald Trump government to postpone new tariffs until after the elections.
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