“Bolsonaro will be a candidate”, says Valdemar, president of the PL, about 2026
The national president of the Liberal Party (PL), Valdemar Costa Netopublished a video on Instagram, this Friday (18), stating that the former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL)who is ineligible until 2030, will be a candidate for President in 2026.
The post comes seven days after the party leader mentioned other possible names to represent the right in the election and was refuted by the former president.
“Bolsonaro is the representative of the right in the world. What happens is that, as he is ineligible, they think that Bolsonaro will not be a candidate, but Bolsonaro will be a candidate”, stated Valdemar.
In the caption of the post, Valdemar praised the former president and said that he will be able to run until the election: “Jair Bolsonaro is the greatest right-wing leader not only in Brazil, but throughout the world. He is a phenomenon wherever he goes.”
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The “queue” of candidates on the right
On the 11th, Valdemar stated, in an interview with GloboNewsthat the first in line for the presidential race was the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans). The PL president also said he was considering a candidacy from federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP), son “03” of the former president.
During the interview, Valdemar said that he believed that Bolsonaro would become eligible before the next election because of a project being processed in the National Congress that could grant amnesty to his supporter.
The proposal provides for pardon for those convicted in investigations related to the attempted coup d’état on January 8th. Bolsonaro is being investigated as one of the masterminds of undemocratic acts in an inquiry reported by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF).
Five days after Valdemar’s statement, Bolsonaro told the website Auri Verde Brasil who is the right-wing candidate for 2026. The former president also said that, if his ineligibility is not annulled, he will withdraw from political life.
Bolsonaro ineligible until 2030
Bolsonaro is ineligible due to a decision by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), which found him guilty of improperly using the position and administrative structure of the Presidency of the Republic to promote his electoral campaign during a meeting with foreign ambassadors at Palácio da Alvorada, in July 2022 .
The event, broadcast live on official social networks and TV Brasill, was evaluated as a way for Bolsonaro to inflame his supporters against the Electoral Court, constituting abuse of political power and misuse of the media.
He was also convicted of electoral use of Independence Day celebrations in the same year.
(With Estadão Content)
