Who is Flávio Bolsonaro?
Flávio Nantes Bolsonaro was born in 1981 and is the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. He served in the Rio de Janeiro state legislature before being elected to the Federal Senate for Rio de Janeiro, where his term runs from 2019 to 2027. His father designated him as the right's presidential candidate in December 2025, and the Liberal Party confirmed his candidacy in July 2026. He finished first in the first round on 4 October 2026 with 47.03 percent of valid votes, but lost the 25 October runoff with 48.21 percent to Lula's 51.79 percent, according to the Superior Electoral Court. On election night he said he would not recognise the result, citing a Supreme Court justice's order extending voting hours, and would seek annulment; the electoral court said the order did not alter the count. The next day allies said he had dropped the annulment plan in favour of legal actions alleging abuse of power by the Lula campaign, and that he would organise the opposition in Congress.
Previously: PL presidential candidate in 2026; lost the 25 October runoff to Lula with 48.21 percent · Senator for Rio de Janeiro (2019-2027 term) · Member of the Rio de Janeiro state legislature (before 2019)
Documented positions
- His government plan proposes cutting at least ten ministries, reducing commissioned posts and reviving the National Privatization Program.Source: acritica.net
- Proposes lowering the value-added tax rate in the consumption tax reform, gradually reducing payroll charges and cutting taxes on energy and fuel.Source: bpmoney.com.br
- Proposes lowering the age of criminal responsibility, ending sentence progression for heinous crimes and building maximum-security federal prisons.Source: acritica.net
- Proposes limiting individual Supreme Court rulings and moving criminal trials of senior officials from the Supreme Court to lower courts.Source: acritica.net
- Has filed a constitutional amendment in the Senate to end presidential re-election.Source: acritica.net
- Said he would pardon those convicted over the 8 January 2023 attacks if an amnesty law is not passed.Source: sbtnews.sbt.com.br
- Said he would nominate Supreme Court justices opposed to abortion and drug legalisation.Source: agorarn.com.br
- Pledged to bring Brazil into the US-led Shield of the Americas alliance against organised crime.Source: metropoles.com
Record
In the Senate he sits on the public security committee and has focused on crime, judicial reform and opposition to the Lula government. His father, Jair Bolsonaro, was convicted by a Supreme Court panel in September 2025 of plotting a coup after the 2022 election and sentenced to 27 years and three months; the conviction became final in November 2025. Flávio has campaigned for amnesty for those convicted over 8 January 2023.
Supporters cite his security agenda, spending cuts and promise of change. Critics cite his amnesty and pardon pledges, his proposals on the Supreme Court, the absence of detail on spending cuts and social policy in his plan, and his refusal to recognise the runoff result.
