Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, announced that he will run for president of the country next year, with the aim of removing the leftist incumbent president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from office, DPA reported.
“With great responsibility, I confirm the decision of Brazil's greatest political and moral leader, Jair Messias Bolsonaro, to entrust me with the mission to continue our national project,“ he wrote on the “Ex” platform. Waldemar Costa Neto, president of the right-wing Liberal Party, confirmed the decision, saying: "When Bolsonaro says something, it happens".
Although party delegates will not formally choose their candidate until next year, Jair Bolsonaro continues to wield significant political influence, despite having no formal party role and being in prison.
Brazil will hold presidential elections in October. President Lula, 80, plans to run again despite his age. He ruled Latin America's largest country from 2003 to 2011 and returned to office for a third term in early 2023. Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, 44, made the statement days after visiting his father at the headquarters of the federal police in Brazil. Jair Bolsonaro is serving a sentence of more than 27 years for a coup attempt.