Flavio Bolsonaro's modest launch highlights right-wing doubts ahead of Brazil election
Flavio Bolsonaro began his presidential campaign in Rio with running mate Alfredo Gaspar, drawing a small crowd and raising questions about the far-right’s viability.
On Sunday, Flavio Bolsonaro opened his presidential campaign in Rio’s Copacabana, appearing in a bullet-proof vest beneath a green-and-yellow shirt and flanked by his wife and running mate Alfredo Gaspar, a first-term lawmaker accused of misusing public money and sexually assaulting a minor. The rally attracted between 7,800 and 9,900 people, a modest crowd, while his father Jair Bolsonaro, confined to house arrest for an alleged coup attempt, spoke to the audience via loudspeakers.
Bolsonaro’s stepmother Michelle stayed in Brasília to care for him. Across the coast, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva launched his re-election bid in São Bernardo do Campo, echoing his early labor-movement speeches and maintaining a poll advantage. Analysts note that many right-wing politicians, including Nikolas Ferreira and the former first lady, skipped the rally, reflecting skepticism about Flavio’s prospects and the lack of a broader coalition. The choice of Gaspar, despite serious allegations, underscores a nepotistic image that could weaken the far-right’s chances in the October election.
Why it matters
The launch shows the Bolsonaro camp’s weak support, which could shape Brazil’s presidential race and the future of its right-wing movement.
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