Eduardo’s ally adopts surname Bolsonaro and suggests candidacy against Tarcísio

A friend of Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL) and considered his right-hand man in São Paulo, state deputy Gil Diniz (PL) decided to adopt the political surname Jair Bolsonaro and criticized right-wing politicians who did not publicly endorse Flávio Bolsonaro’s (PL) pre-candidacy for the Presidency. In a speech in the plenary session of the state Legislative Assembly, this Tuesday, the congressman also criticized governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), from last week, for being in favor of the dispersion of right-wing candidacies in the first round of the presidential elections.

After visiting Jair Bolsonaro in prison, last Thursday, Tarcísio argued that more than one candidacy from the right wing “is not a problem” because, in a possible second round, the specter would join forces against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT). Gil Diniz mocked the statement with the suggestion that the PL then launch a competitor to the São Paulo Executive.

— Does this same logic apply to the government of São Paulo? Because if it’s worth it for the government of São Paulo, it’s worth it for the Liberal Party to have a candidate too, because it helps the state (deputy) ticket, it helps the federal (deputy) ticket. The Liberal Party is the largest party in the state of São Paulo and the largest party in Brazil — said Gil.

This week, presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) once again defended the unity of the right around a national project, whether in the first or second round of elections. In an interview with blogger Paulo Figueiredo Filho, the senator highlighted the clan’s alignment with Tarcísio, after a recent uneasiness generated by statements about the governor’s electoral plans.

Flávio rejected allegations that the spread of right-wing candidacies could weaken the opposition’s chances in 2026. Gil Diniz is one of the main defenders of a right-wing agglutination around the senator. In his speech at Alesp, the deputy criticized right-wing politicians who were elected under the Bolsonaro banner, but did not oppose the arrest of the former president or the senator’s pre-candidacy for the Presidency. He added that he adopted the clan’s surname.

— I put (the surname Bolsonaro) in my parliamentary name not as a political way of misusing President Bolsonaro’s name, but as a statement: here, yes, we defend President Bolsonaro and his family. It doesn’t matter if with the name or not, that doesn’t say if we are Bolsonaro supporters — said Gil.

Undefined for Senate in SP

The impeachment of former deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP) and his stay in the United States opened a vacuum in the electoral board for the São Paulo Senate and led to an internal dispute in the PL. The clash today is seen as a test of strength between different nuclei of Bolsonarism — including within the family itself.

Without Eduardo, who was leading the electoral dispute in some polls, at least six politicians began to present themselves as an alternative to occupy his space.

Meanwhile, Tarcísio works to establish his own ticket in the state, with former Secretary of Public Security Guilherme Derrite (PP) as one of the candidates for the Senate, in a still undefined scenario of composition with another name from the PL — this year two representatives per state will be elected to the House.

Impeached by the Chamber for faults, Eduardo is not ineligible, but a return to Brazil this year is unlikely, according to allies. This is because he is a defendant in a case pending before the Federal Supreme Court (STF) for trying to coerce the Judiciary by issuing sanctions on Brazilian authorities — with a high chance of conviction.

In this context, divisions in the family began. Eduardo tries to win over his friend, state deputy Gil Diniz. At the beginning of December, Diniz was in the United States and reportedly heard a direct request from Eduardo: that he run for the Senate to maintain his group’s influence in the state.

Allies of the two describe a relationship of trust built over the last 12 years, with frequent dialogue.

Former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro is also trying to occupy space in the sewing, reinforcing the political capital of PL Mulher’s allies. The name of federal deputy Rosana Valle was included in internal research at Michelle’s request, but Rosana’s allies say she is resisting and working for re-election, considered less risky.

At first, the PL of São Paulo almost closed the question that the candidate would be Renato Bolsonaro, brother of the former president. However, Renato has said that he prefers to run for the Chamber and not risk a majority election, with a high rate of exposure and risk of defeat.

Representative Marco Feliciano is seen as the most insistent: he wants the position and tries to stay in the game, but suffers internal resistance as he is considered not very viable and “too noisy” for a majority dispute in São Paulo.

São Paulo vice-mayor Colonel Mello Araújo, in turn, appears as a competitive alternative with an appeal to the public security electorate, but gathers strong political resistance from the base of Mayor Ricardo Nunes (MDB).

The uncertainty also impacts Flávio Bolsonaro’s presidential project, which avoids getting directly involved in the dispute, but depends on São Paulo to catapult it into the national arena.

The senator’s allies say that he needs a robust platform in the state and argue that the family should embrace the ticket designed by Tarcísio, even without names from the PL, such as the duo Derrite and Ricardo Salles (Novo).

The Bolsonaro family’s irritation with Salles, however, is long-standing: he left the PL after becoming frustrated with the party’s denial of his plan to run for Mayor of São Paulo in 2024, an episode that, in Bolsonaro’s reading, showed a lack of discipline.