Following in his father's footsteps, his political career, his relationship with Trump: who is Flavio Bolsonaro

Flavio Bolsonaro lost the Brazilian presidential election to incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the October 25 runoff. The 45 year old senator had led the first round three weeks prior with 47 percent of the vote against his rival’s 45 percent. Despite this early advantage, he failed to secure victory in the final contest. The candidate for the Liberal Party sought to position himself as a moderate alternative within the Bolsonaro political family, yet his platform remained anchored in the ideological framework established by his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro. Born in Resende, Rio de Janeiro state, on April 30, 1981, Flavio entered politics at age 21 after studying law. He was elected to the state legislative assembly in 2002 and served four consecutive terms there before moving to the federal Senate in 2018. That year coincided with his father’s rise to the presidency, during which Flavio acted as an informal advisor and liaison between the government and Congress. His political agenda focused heavily on public security, support for police forces, and proposals to increase criminal penalties. The campaign was marked by several controversies. Flavio faced investigations regarding the alleged misuse of parliamentary assistant salaries, a case known locally as the rachadinha scandal. He denied all wrongdoing, and prosecutors eventually archived the complaint after key evidence was invalidated by the courts. More recently, he came under scrutiny over the financing of Dark Horse, a documentary film dedicated to his father. The senator rejected these accusations. Additionally, his past association with a decorated police officer who later became a hitman has continued to haunt him. This individual allegedly took secrets to his grave. On the international stage, Flavio aimed to strengthen ties with United States President Donald Trump. He viewed the American administration as a potential ally for the Brazilian conservative front. Their convergence included criticism of left-wing policies, defense of traditional values, and a harder approach to crime. Domestically, he looked to Argentine President Javier Milei’s free market model, promising spending cuts and tax reductions while attempting to reassure voters about social benefits. However, his program stayed close to the more radical wing of Bolsonarism. Notable proposals included amnesty for his father and sharp critiques of judicial institutions. Family dynamics played a visible role in the campaign. Michelle Bolsonaro, his father’s third wife, publicly confronted Flavio using a video denunciation. This incident sparked a family feud reminiscent of high stakes corporate dramas. Although Flavio did not display the open nostalgia for military dictatorship or the aggressive machismo associated with his father, observers noted that substance often outweighed form. The political franchise created by Jair Bolsonaro, who strategically placed his children in various levels of the legislature, had challenged the Workers Party for nearly a decade. Flavio described himself simply as a senator, lawyer, and Christian. He hoped to return the Bolsonaro clan to power and disrupt the end of Lula’s political career. While polls initially favored him less than actual results suggested, scandals involving corruption allegations and recorded misstatements did not prevent him from gaining ground in the weeks leading up to the second round. Almost the entire right wing rallied behind his candidacy. Yet, despite the initial momentum and broad support from conservative sectors, the final tally resulted in defeat. The outcome leaves the Bolsonaro family without direct control of the presidency, though their influence in the legislature remains significant.