Tarcísio de Freitas reaffirms loyalty to Bolsonaro and says he will support Flávio in 2026

The governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), reaffirmed this Monday his loyalty to former president Jair Bolsonaro, and said he will support the candidacy of his son, senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), for the Palácio do Planalto in 2026.

“(…) I always said that I would be loyal to Bolsonaro, that I am grateful to Bolsonaro and I have this loyalty, it is non-negotiable”, Tarcísio told journalists in Diadema, adding that he was with Flávio last Friday.

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“Flávio will count on us, Flávio has a great responsibility from now on”, said the governor of São Paulo.

Flávio announced, on Friday, that he was chosen by his father — who is in prison after being convicted of an attempted coup d’état, in addition to being ineligible by decision of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) — to be Bolsonarism’s presidential candidate in 2026.

Although on Sunday he stated that he could give up running for a ‘price’ (amnesty for his father and those involved in January 8), this Monday he told Folha de S.Paulo that his candidacy is irreversible and ruled out the possibility of him and Tarcísio running as candidates at the same time.

Flávio’s pre-candidacy shook the markets on Friday, causing DI rates to shoot up more than 50 basis points and the dollar to rise close to 3% against the real, while the Ibovespa plummeted by more than 4%.

The information was poorly received by investors, who saw it as an obstacle to Tarcísio’s presidential candidacy.