Bolsonaro family strengthens its political foothold after Flávio wins first round

Brazil’s elections put Flávio Bolsonaro, the former president’s eldest son, at the top of the presidential race. He will face incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in a runoff.

The family also won several key mandates: Michelle Bolsonaro and Carlos Bolsonaro were elected senators, while Jair Renan Bolsonaro won a seat in the federal Congress. Bolsonaro’s 15-year-old daughter is the only one of his five children who has never held political office.

The former president’s younger brother, Renato Bolsonaro, also won a congressional seat. He received 380,000 votes, after polling fewer than 10,000 in a mayoral race two years ago.

New offices for the family

Michelle Bolsonaro, 44, ran for public office for the first time. Carlos Bolsonaro, regarded as the most radical of the brothers, had previously spent 25 years as a city councillor in Rio de Janeiro.

Jair Renan Bolsonaro, 28, moved from city politics to the federal legislature. Eduardo Bolsonaro, 42, did not seek re-election after leaving his congressional seat and entering self-imposed exile in the United States.

Michelle’s role in the movement

Michelle is often regarded as the family’s leading political figure. A July poll named her the most powerful woman in Brazilian politics, ahead of first lady Janja Lula da Silva, a Supreme Court justice and many members of Congress.

Camila Rocha, a researcher at the Brazilian Center for Analysis and Planning, said Bolsonaro supporters were much more positive about Michelle than about his sons. Her appeal is linked in part to her religious identity and support among evangelical voters.

A public dispute emerged between Michelle and Flávio during the campaign after she said the senator had humiliated and disrespected her. Flávio apologised, but the two did not campaign together.

Flávio’s result and its limits

Renato Bolsonaro said during the campaign that Flávio did not command the same crowds as his father. Flávio nevertheless won more votes than Jair Bolsonaro received in the 2018 and 2022 presidential elections.

Some observers view the result mainly as an anti-Lula vote rather than strong personal support for Flávio. Rocha said many voters still see the Bolsonaro family as representing political renewal and an anti-establishment choice.