Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, said on Friday that he would run for president next year and prevent incumbent leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from winning another term.
"With great responsibility, I confirm the decision of Brazil's greatest political and moral leader, Jair Messias Bolsonaro, to entrust me with the mission of continuing our national project," he wrote on the X platform.
"When Bolsonaro says something, it counts," said Valdemar Košta Neto, president of the right-wing Liberal Party, confirming the decision, Hina reports.
Political influence despite prison sentence
Although the party's official candidates are not chosen until next year, Jair Bolsonaro still wields significant political influence despite having no formal party role and being in prison.
Presidential elections are scheduled to be held in Brazil in November 2026.
President Lula (80) plans to run again, despite his advanced age.
Lula ruled Latin America's largest country from 2003 to 2011 and returned to office for a third term in early 2023.
The struggle for influence in the right-wing camp
Flavio Bolsonaro, a 44-year-old senator, made the statement days after visiting his father at federal police headquarters in Brasilia.
Jair Bolsonaro is serving a prison sentence of more than 27 years after being convicted of attempting a coup.
In recent months, allies of the former Brazilian president have been fighting for political influence in the right-wing camp, and Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas was among the names mentioned for a possible candidacy.
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