Bolsonaro hints at support for Tarcísio in 2026, but the Liberal Party demands party affiliation as a condition.

247 - Ineligible for eight years, Jair Bolsonaro (PL) has given the green light for the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos), to be the right-wing candidate in the 2026 presidential race. According to reporting by... CNN Brazil, The gesture reportedly occurred last weekend during Bolsonaro's stay at Palácio dos Bandeirantes, the official residence of the governor of São Paulo.

The Liberal Party's formal support for Tarcísio depends on a condition considered non-negotiable: his affiliation with the party. The PL's requirement opens the door for the vice-presidential candidate to be chosen from a party allied with Bolsonaro, broadening the range of support on the right.

The idea of ​​forming a ticket with Tarcísio Bolsonaro as the presidential candidate and Michelle Bolsonaro as his running mate has lost momentum. Internal assessments suggest that Michelle has a better chance of success in a Senate race, while Bolsonaro needs to reward other long-time allies with strategic positions in the 2026 election.

In this context, the possibility of an alliance with Senator Tereza Cristina (PP-MS), former Minister of Agriculture under Bolsonaro himself, is gaining momentum. Her name is viewed favorably by leaders of the PL party and by influential figures within the Bolsonaro group, who consider her an option capable of garnering support both in agribusiness and among parliamentarians from the Centrão bloc.

The final decision, however, will depend on Tarcísio's willingness to switch parties. Despite his political closeness to Bolsonaro, the São Paulo governor has indicated on several occasions that he intends to stay out of electoral contests in the short term. Even so, sources say that the former president's signal reinforces his influence on the right and keeps Bolsonaro's inner circle mobilized around the presidential succession.