Flávio Bolsonaro preaches unity of right-wing presidential candidates

Two days after the transfer of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) to Papudinha, senator and pre-candidate for Planalto Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) stated this Saturday that a union of the right on the same platform against president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) will occur “at the right time”. In a video published on social media, the parliamentarian also criticized his father’s arrest and the PT government.

The senator defended a presidential platform led by him and with the presence of family members and right-wing leaders who place themselves as pre-candidates or are considered candidates for the Planalto. Flávio cites former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro (PL) and governors Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos-SP), Ratinho Jr. (PSD-PR), Romeu Zema (Novo-MG) and Ronaldo Caiado (União-GO).

— While it’s not possible (Bolsonaro’s freedom), wouldn’t you like to see in person the moment when I, Tarcísio, Michelle, Ratinho, Zema, Caiado and so many other right-wing leaders were together, on the same platform, for the same cause, to rescue Brazil from the clutches of the current government? Calm down, this will happen in due time — said Flávio.

By decision of the Minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) Alexandre de Moraes, Bolsonaro was taken to the 19th Battalion of the PM-DF, where the former minister Anderson Torres and the former director general of the Federal Highway Police (PRF) Silvinei Vasques are already present. The place earned the nickname “Papudinha” because it is next to the Papuda Penitentiary Complex.

Fragmented right

As GLOBO showed, the announcement that Flávio was chosen by his father as a pre-candidate for the Presidency changed the political plan planned by the presidents of Centrão parties. If he is indeed defined as a candidate for the Planalto, the state platforms will be severely affected.

On other fronts, the PL pre-candidate has accumulated setbacks involving right-wing allies who could contribute to his national project.

Previously identified by Centrão parties as a presidential option, Tarcísio, for example, has given timid support to the senator. Added to this is a nod made by Michelle to the governor on social media and the refusal of the governor of Zema to withdraw his pre-candidacy to support Flávio’s and be his vice-president.

Working with the scenario in which the governor of São Paulo would be the candidate of Bolsonarism, there were already negotiations to bring Tarcísio closer to sectors that today are far from the right, such as the mayor of Rio, Eduardo Paes, from the PSD, who should be a candidate for governor.

There were also negotiations for the PSD to provide a platform for Bolsonarism in other states, such as Minas Gerais, with vice-governor Matheus Simões, and in Maranhão, with Eduardo Braide. The president of the PSD, Gilberto Kassab, must now recalculate the route and these candidates must not give a platform to Flávio.

The tendency is for them not to take a position or support Ratinho’s candidacy in 2026. The same difficult scenario should be reproduced in União Brasil and PP, which should form a federation.

Recent search

Even though the most recent Quaest Survey gave impetus to Flávio’s pre-candidacy, Centrão leaders resist embarking on the electoral project.

In a first round scenario, Lula appears with 36% of voting intentions, against 23% for Flávio Bolsonaro and 9% for Tarcísio. In the same survey, in a second round scenario, the PT member would score 45% against 38% for Flávio. In the scenario in which the dispute is with Tarcísio, Lula would have 44% against 39% for the governor of São Paulo.

Party leaders say it is too early to measure the senator’s electoral potential and that he will need to show political viability. With Jair Bolsonaro’s decision to launch his son, the Centrão parties have been evaluating different paths and there is still no unified decision between them.