FLAVIO BOLSONARO LAUNCHES BRAZILIAN PRESIDENTIAL BID

Flavio Bolsonaro formally launched his candidacy for Brazil's October presidential election on Saturday at a Liberal Party convention in São Paulo. The senator is seeking to challenge incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is pursuing a fourth term in office. Flavio has vowed to address crime, inflation and high taxes, and has secured support from Argentina's President Milei. His father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, anointed him as successor after being sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup following his 2022 election loss to Lula.

Supporters gathered at a warehouse adjacent to São Paulo's Pacaembu Stadium, wearing Brazilian national team jerseys and waving flags. According to polling data published by Datafolha on Friday, a runoff election between the two candidates would see Lula receive 48 per cent of votes to Flavio's 43 per cent. Flavio's campaign has been affected by multiple controversies: an audio recording emerged in May showing him asking banker Daniel Vorcaro — accused in a multi-million dollar fraud case — to finance a film about his father. Flavio had previously denied contact with Vorcaro. A Supreme Court justice ordered an investigation into the film's financing on Thursday.

Flavio's polling position weakened following the banker controversy, a family dispute, and new tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, who is allied with the Bolsonaro movement. One convention attendee, Fernando Moeno, a retired military police officer, told reporters: "We would have liked our candidate to be Jair Bolsonaro, but today Flavio is the best choice." The election is scheduled for October 2026.