Centrão is pressuring Bolsonaro to support a successor outside the family before serving his prison sentence.

247 - Pressure on Jair Bolsonaro (PL), sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison for attempted coup d'état, has intensified within the Centrão (center-right political bloc). According to a report published by the newspaper... The GlobeLeaders of parties within the bloc want the former president, still under house arrest, to indicate who will be the right-wing candidate in 2026 — and the preference is for that name to be from outside the family circle.

The movement intensified after the confirmation of the sentence, with political maneuvering directly involving the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos), considered a favorite of leaders such as Antonio Rueda (União Brasil) and Ciro Nogueira (PP). In parallel, other leaders within the bloc are trying to prevent Bolsonaro or his sons from becoming the main players in the presidential race.

With Bolsonaro's trial concluded, sources within the Centrão (center-right political bloc) believe this is the moment to convince him to support a candidate from outside his family. The president of the PL party, Valdemar Costa Neto, stated that he intends to speak with the former president to reach an agreement on his successor.

The activity occurs amidst political visits authorized by the Supreme Federal Court (STF). Among the parliamentarians already cleared to meet with Bolsonaro are Carlos Portinho, Marcos Rogério, Sanderson, and Bruno Scheid.

In defense of his father, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) declared:

"Everyone who has put their name forward for 2026 is legitimate, but they need Bolsonaro's support and they know it. There's no point in rushing things."

Dispute over amnesty and its electoral repercussions.

While seeking to expand his political reach, Tarcísio returned to Brasília to try to unblock the amnesty proposal for those involved in the anti-democratic acts of January 8th. The governor even criticized Minister Alexandre de Moraes, in a gesture seen as an approach to Bolsonaro's ideology, but denied any interest from the Presidential Palace.

"I am not a candidate (for President). Contrary to all speculation and widespread belief, it makes no sense to me. I will stay (in the government of São Paulo) and run for re-election."

Despite this, his performance is divisive. Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP) has already expressed discomfort with his performance, which he considers insufficiently incisive. Furthermore, parties like PP and União Brasil reject including provisions in the amnesty bill that would allow Bolsonaro to return to the polls.

Representative Cláudio Cajado (PP-BA) summarized the impasse:

"There's no point in having an amnesty that doesn't include the Bolsonaro issue on January 8th. But the PL also wants to add the TSE conviction, which is causing reactions from people who don't want it. That's where the biggest problem lies."

Division between parties and resistance from the government.

Behind the scenes, figures like Ciro Nogueira, Antonio Rueda, Marcos Pereira (Republicanos), and Gilberto Kassab (PSD) are advocating for a right-wing candidacy without Bolsonaro and his family. Meanwhile, the PL insists on a broad amnesty, including electoral convictions.

The choice of rapporteur for the proposal in Congress has become yet another point of contention: Bolsonaro's allies want someone identified with Bolsonarism, while sectors of the Centrão (center-right bloc) are pushing for more moderate names.

The federal government, in turn, is working to block the amnesty. Lindbergh Farias (PT-RJ), the party's leader in the Chamber of Deputies, said:

"The government is looking at it party by party. It would be a somewhat childish provocation after the Supreme Court said it's unconstitutional. This desperation is only from Bolsonaro's base. I don't believe that a large portion of these centrist parties would embark on such an adventure."

Minister Gleisi Hoffmann (Institutional Relations) met with ministers from the Centrão bloc to reinforce the mobilization against the vote. Furthermore, the Planalto Palace is attempting to push through economic measures, such as expanding the income tax exemption bracket, in contrast to the opposition's agenda.

Anticipated scenario for 2026

The dispute over amnesty and the succession of Jair Bolsonaro exposes the anticipation of the 2026 presidential campaign. While one wing of the Centrão (center-right bloc) works to consolidate Tarcísio de Freitas as a viable alternative, the PL (Liberal Party) insists on maintaining the prominence of the former president and his family.

In this clash, the Brazilian right enters a new cycle of negotiations, divided between loyalty to Bolsonarism and the search for a competitive candidate outside of Jair Bolsonaro's family circle.