Bolsonaro seeks to elect family members to maintain control of his electoral estate

Arrested for an attempted coup d'état and ineligible, former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) seeks to elect this Sunday (4) three children, a brother, his current wife, an ex and two brothers-in-law to maintain control over his electoral estate.

Bolsonaro chose his eldest son, senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), as a presidential candidate and is trying to transform him in these elections into his main political heir — frustrating the expectations of allies who were betting on the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans).

Bolsonaro also launched his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro (PL), as a candidate for the Senate for the Federal District. In her debut in politics, the former first lady leads voting intention polls and is seen as one of the bets for the perpetuation of Bolsonarism, despite the distrust of the right itself.

After weeks of reporting that she was undecided about whether or not to enter politics, the former first lady confirmed her candidacy saying that the decision had been shared with her husband.

"He [Bolsonaro] really wants [her mandate in the Senate], it's a desire of his heart. I think it's natural, for our work, for Brazil, that we influence, encourage good women to be in politics", he declared in June.

Michelle nominated one of her brothers, Diego Torres (PL), as the first alternate and wants to elect another. The former first lady exploited her popularity in Brasília to try to win over Eduardo Torres (PL), who is running for the district deputy seat for the second time.

Just like Eduardo, Renato Bolsonaro (PL), Bolsonaro's brother, is running in the elections for federal deputy for São Paulo with one of the most coveted numbers in the PL, 2222. Of the eight times he was a candidate, Renato only won once: he was elected councilor for Praia Grande (SP) in 1996.

Two other of Bolsonaro's children will also be tested at the polls again. Carlos Bolsonaro (PL) left Rio de Janeiro to take advantage of the patriarch's favoritism in one of the most Bolsonaro states in the country, Santa Catarina.

After seven consecutive terms as a councilor in Rio de Janeiro, Carlos is running for a seat in the Senate amid the opposition's offensive to reverse the current game of forces, obtain a majority and manage to approve the impeachment of ministers of the STF (Supreme Federal Court).

The migration to Santa Catarina began with "son 04", Jair Renan (PL), elected in 2024 as councilor of Balneário Camboriú (SC). Now, halfway through his term, Jair Renan is seeking a seat in the state's Chamber of Deputies.

Last month, Jair Renan's absences were questioned by councilor Marcelo Achutti (MDB). "Now, [if] you're in an election campaign, do like the others. When I was a candidate, I took leave and gave way to the substitute", he criticized.

Jair Renan responded by saying that he needs to be absent "to give strength" to his father. "I just wanted to explain why I was absent on Wednesday. And almost every Wednesday I must be absent because I have to visit my father, now a political prisoner, persecuted by all levels", he explained.

Of Bolsonaro's five children, only two are out of the running: the youngest, Laura, who is 15 years old, and Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL), who went into self-exile in the United States. Eduardo wanted to run for the position of alternate senator on André do Prado's (PL) ticket for São Paulo, but ended up giving up.

The Bolsonaro list also includes the mother of children "01, 02 and 03", Rogéria Bolsonaro (PL), candidate for federal deputy for Rio de Janeiro.