Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro has officially launched his candidacy to challenge President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the upcoming October election. During a campaign launch event held in Sao Paulo, where supporters displayed green and yellow flags, the senator pledged to implement tax cuts and adopt a tougher stance on crime. He emphasized his intention to continue the political legacy of his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, telling the crowd, "Here is Bolsonaro's blood."
The campaign event featured high-profile international support, including a video address from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a show of support from Argentine President Javier Milei. Additionally, the senator presented an AI-generated message from his father, who is currently under house arrest due to his alleged role in an attempt to overturn the election won by Lula. Former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro also shared a video message, stating, "Flavio, may God bless and protect your candidacy."
Despite this launch, the campaign faces significant hurdles. The senator’s popularity has been complicated by a public dispute with Michelle Bolsonaro and his well-known ties to former US President Donald Trump, who has imposed tariffs on Brazilian goods. Furthermore, the campaign lost momentum in May following the leak of messages linking the senator to jailed banker Daniel Vorcaro, who the senator later confirmed had financed a film about his father's political career.
Political alliances have also proven difficult to secure, with several centre-right parties opting to remain neutral rather than endorse his bid. Recent polling data from Datafolha, released on Friday, indicates that Lula maintains a lead over Bolsonaro, with the president polling at 48 percent to the senator's 43 percent in a potential runoff. This represents a slight shift from June, when the same poll placed the figures at 47 percent to 43 percent.
