Flávio Bolsonaro: The son in his father's shadow wants to become president!

Flávio Bolsonaro: The son in his father's shadow wants to become president!

The political emphasis in Brazil is taking an exciting turn: Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of imprisoned former President Jair Bolsonaro, has officially announced that he will run for president next year. On the X platform, the 44-year-old explained that his father gave him the responsibility to continue the national project. This decision was confirmed by Valdemar Costa Neto, leader of the Liberal Party (PL). Flávio Bolsonaro plans to run against incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is running for his fourth term, in October 2026.

The electorate is wondering how a candidate can survive in the shadow of his father, who was sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempted coup. Despite his prison sentence, Jair Bolsonaro still has considerable political influence. Many of his supporters expect Flávio to uphold his father's line. But the political struggles are not over, and within the right-wing camp there is already speculation about possible candidates, such as Tarcísio de Freitas, the governor of São Paulo, who, however, has not been able to assert himself in this power game without resistance in the past.

A legacy with challenges

Flávio Bolsonaro brings a range of political experience, having been a senator since 2018 and previously a state legislator in Rio de Janeiro. However, he remains under the shadow of allegations of embezzlement of public funds, which were ultimately dropped. Despite these challenges, he has to look for broad support in the right-wing spectrum in order to be able to survive against Lula da Silva in the election campaign.

The height of the political turmoil came when Jair Bolsonaro was convicted by Brazil's Supreme Court in September 2023 of leading a criminal organization. This organization tried to overturn the election defeat against Lula, which still has a major impact on the political landscape today. Analysts see Flávio Bolsonaro as a weaker candidate compared to Tarcisio in terms of fundamental competitiveness in the presidential race.

Looking into the future

Meanwhile, the question remains whether Flávio can marshal the political support needed for a right-wing victory. Experts stress that he must be prepared to confront his party's internal forces while sending a clear message to voters seeking stability and economic growth. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, 80 years old and already in his third term since the beginning of 2023, will certainly be ready to defend his place.

The upcoming presidential elections in October 2026 will decide not only the fate of the Bolsonaro family, but also the political future of Brazil. As Flávio Bolsonaro plots his path to the presidency, the country's political arena remains tense and marked by an uncertain future.