Key facts
- Flávio Bolsonaro secured the Liberal Party's nomination for Brazil's presidential election.
- He will challenge incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
- Javier Milei and Benjamin Netanyahu have backed Bolsonaro's candidacy.
- Jair Bolsonaro, serving a prison sentence, appeared via AI-generated video.
- Flávio Bolsonaro presented the election as a battle against Lula and the Supreme Court.
Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, has been confirmed as the presidential candidate for his father's Liberal Party, setting the stage for a challenge against incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the upcoming October election.
At the party convention in São Paulo, Flávio Bolsonaro declared, "Bolsonaro's blood flows here," paying tribute to his father, who is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup following his 2022 election defeat.
Bolsonaro faces a challenging campaign, lacking a running mate and receiving limited support from centrist parties that previously aided his father. Notable absences from the convention included his stepmother, Michelle Bolsonaro. He has garnered backing from Argentine President Javier Milei and a supportive message from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while also seeking endorsements from allies of US President Donald Trump.
The campaign has encountered setbacks, including criticism over a request for funds from a jailed banker for a film about his father and backlash for seeking US support amid higher US tariffs on Brazilian exports. Jair Bolsonaro made an appearance via an AI-generated video, as he remains under house arrest and is barred from public statements.
Flávio Bolsonaro accused President Lula and Brazil's Supreme Court of targeting his family, framing the election as a critical battle for the country's future. Lula's Workers' Party is expected to formally confirm the 80-year-old president's re-election bid on August 2.