Flávio Bolsonaro campaigns in Minas Gerais as Brazil's far right gains momentum

Flávio Bolsonaro, the far‑right senator and eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, landed at an airfield on the outskirts of Juiz de Fora in Minas Gerais on Saturday, where a large banner bearing his father’s name was displayed. Addressing a crowd of supporters, the senator declared that Brazil “has no president and Brazil needs a president – and that president is Flávio Bolsonaro.” The rally comes as opinion polls show the Bolsonaro camp narrowing the gap with incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, positioning Minas Gerais as a decisive battleground in the upcoming presidential election.

The event underscores the political resurgence of the Bolsonaro family despite Jair Bolsonaro’s incarceration, with Flávio seeking to capitalize on his father’s base while presenting himself as a unifying alternative. As the campaign intensifies, analysts note that Minas Gerais, Brazil’s second‑largest state by population, will play a pivotal role in determining whether the race remains a close contest or tilts in favor of either candidate in the final weeks before voting.