Eduardo Bolsonaro wants to run in 2026 to maintain Bolsonarism.
Brazilian congressman considers running for office with support from Jair Bolsonaro or directly from the US after his father was sentenced to 27 years in prison.
247- Determined to run for President of the Republic in 2026, federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP) is already considering alternatives in light of the new political scenario involving his father, who was sentenced to 27 years in prison. According to Bela Megale, from the newspaper The GlobeEduardo is considering two possibilities: betting on a broad amnesty approved by Congress or launching a candidacy from the United States, where he has been since February.
In the most optimistic scenario, the congressman believes that if Congress approves an amnesty bill and it is not blocked by the Supreme Federal Court (STF), Jair Bolsonaro (PL) could directly support him in the race for the Planalto Palace. In this scenario, Eduardo would return to Brazil for the campaign.
Plan B: international application
If the amnesty doesn't go through, Eduardo is already discussing with allies the possibility of maintaining his candidacy from abroad. He believes he can repeat the mobilization achieved by Jair Bolsonaro on September 7th, when the former president managed to gain popular engagement even without a physical presence or access to social media. The strategy, according to aides, would be to capitalize on the support of Bolsonaro's base even on American soil.
Despite his confidence in his ability to mobilize support, Eduardo acknowledges that the biggest challenge is legally enabling his candidacy. To run for president, he will need to leave the PL party and join another. Furthermore, the congressman is under investigation for his actions in the United States on charges of coercion of authorities, a process that could lead to his ineligibility if convicted by the Supreme Federal Court.
Obstacles and political calculation
Even aware that the chance of defeat is considerable, Eduardo Bolsonaro has already signaled to allies that he sees advantages in running. According to him, the candidacy would serve to keep the flame of the movement he leads alive and differentiate himself from what he calls the "permitted right." He also believes that his presence in the race would weaken the aspirations of the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos), as the main representative of the right in 2026.
Another strategy the congressman is using is that his candidacy reduces the space for the emergence of a "new path" seeking to capture Bolsonaro's voters. With this, he hopes to consolidate himself as the leader of his own political core, capable of structuring a party under his leadership in the future.
Currently, Eduardo Bolsonaro's strategy revolves around two clear paths: either to run with his father's direct endorsement on Brazilian soil, should the amnesty move forward, or to launch his candidacy from abroad, reinforcing his influence within Bolsonarism even in the face of the legal risks he faces.
