Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of imprisoned former President Jair Bolsonaro, has announced his father’s endorsement to run for president in 2026.

In a social media post on Friday, Flavio shared a photo of himself kissing his father’s head and released a statement.

It explained that his father – whom he called Brazil’s “greatest political and moral leader” – had passed on to him “the mission to continue our national project”.

“I cannot and will not accept to see our country go through a period of instability, insecurity and frustration,” Flavio wrote.

“I will not stand idly by as I watch families’ hopes dashed and our democracy die.”

Brazil is scheduled to hold elections on October 4, 2026, and with his father’s consent, Flavio is now the heir apparent, representing the far-right Liberal Party (PL) at the ballot box.

Jair Bolsonaro is considered the honorary leader of the Popular League, but he is not allowed to hold office until 2030.

Valdemar Costa Neto, the party’s official president, confirmed that Jair’s support for his son led to Flavio’s nomination.

“As president of the Popular Party, I inform you that Jair Bolsonaro has chosen Senator Flavio Bolsonaro to represent the party in the presidential election,” Costa Neta wrote in an official statement.

“Flavio told me that our captain confirmed his pre-selection. So if Bolsonaro speaks, the matter is settled!”

The announcement sparked a rematch between the Bolsonaro family and Brazil’s current left-wing president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Jailed for attempted coup

The elder Bolsonaro and Lula have previously faced off in the 2022 presidential race. It was a close race: Neither candidate won a majority of the vote in the first round, forcing the race to a runoff.

But on October 30, Lula narrowly won the second round of the election with 50.9% of the vote. It was the closest result to a presidential race since Brazil’s return to democracy in the 1980s.

Despite this, current President Jair Bolsonaro refuses to publicly acknowledge his defeat. Instead, he and his allies submitted a legal challenge Objected to the vote, arguing that voting machines had “serious malfunctions” and evidence of “malfunctions.”

This is a theory that Jair Bolsonaro publicly advanced before his first vote, while he was campaigning. Critics point out that there is no evidence to support his claims.

legal challenge eventually thrown away Because of “total dishonesty”.

But supporters of Jair Bolsonaro continue to rally against his defeat. Over the next few months they attacked federal police headquarters In the capital Brasília, after Lula was inaugurated on January 8, 2023, they attacked the government building in the city’s Plaza de Triqua.

Some protesters are trying to trigger a military response to overthrow Lula’s fledgling government.

The riot at Three Powers Plaza ultimately sparked a federal investigation, raids and arrests.

After losing the election, Jair Bolsonaro also found himself mired in investigations and legal complaints, including fraud charges and corruption charges related to his COVID-19 record.

In June 2023, Brazil’s Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE) vote for pub Jair Bolsonaro has resigned from public office for eight years, calling his use of public resources to spread election lies an “abuse of power.”

Just last month, Jair Bolsonaro detained In September, he was convicted of plotting a coup and sentenced to 27 years in prison.

Jair Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing and described his prosecution as a politically motivated hit effort aimed at undermining his popularity.

politics, family affairs

Meanwhile, his sons have become public advocates for their father, pleading for his release.

Earlier this year, Brazilian House of Representatives member Eduardo Bolsonaro traveled to the United States to lobby President Donald Trump for help in his father’s case. Trump has since spoken out against prosecuting Jair Bolsonaro and imposed tariffs on Brazil’s economy.

In mid-November, a panel of Brazil’s Supreme Court voted to put Eduardo Bolsonaro on trial to weigh whether his actions amounted to obstruction of justice in an attempt to influence the outcome of his father’s trial.

Jair Bolsonaro’s family and allies also push for Congress to pass amnesty bill This would set the former president free.

Friday’s endorsement follows speculation that former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro could be an option to represent the Popular Party in next year’s elections. São Paulo Governor Tarcisio Gomez de Freitas is also listed as a candidate.

But the choice of 44-year-old Flavio Bolsonaro is seen as an attempt to appeal to the former president’s far-right voters.

The choice could end up alienating Brazil’s conservative centrist wing. Flavio has served in the Senate since 2019 and previously served as a congressman for the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Currently, the biggest contender in the upcoming election is Lula himself.

In late October, the left-wing president announced that he would seek fourth term. Now 80, he assured supporters he feels as energetic as ever.

Brazilian law allows only two terms at a time, but more if not consecutive terms. Lula first served as president from 2003 to 2011 before successfully running for office in 2022.

Current polls show Lula in the lead in next year’s race, but much could change. After all, the vote is still more than nine months away.

The National Transportation Federation and research firm MDA Institute conducted a survey in late November to try to gauge the odds of various races Lula could face in October.

Lula comes out on top every time. When pitted against the imprisoned Jair Bolsonaro, he received nearly 39% support compared to the right-wing leader’s 27%. Compared to Michel Bolsonaro, Lula’s approval rating is higher: 42% to 23%. Flavio Bolsonaro is not among the options under investigation.

If Lula wins and serves a fourth term, he will be 85 years old.