Even with Bolsonaro ineligible, PL is betting on its own candidate in 2026.
The party rules out supporting other names and is considering Michelle and Flávio Bolsonaro as alternatives, while Tarcísio de Freitas resists joining the PL.
247 - The Liberal Party (PL) maintains its decision to launch its own candidacy for the Presidency of the Republic in 2026, even in the face of Jair Bolsonaro's ineligibility. According to the column by journalist [name missing]. Gustavo UribeAccording to CNN Brazil, any support from the party will depend on affiliation with the party, which currently holds the largest bloc in the Chamber of Deputies.
The former president's defense team still intends to appeal to the Supreme Federal Court to overturn his ineligibility, but allies acknowledge that his chances of victory are minimal. Given this scenario, the expectation is that Bolsonaro will personally choose a candidate to represent him in the race. Behind the scenes, however, he has indicated that he does not see a first round with multiple opposition candidates as negative, believing that fragmentation could strengthen his political base.
Among the names most frequently mentioned for the presidential race is the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos). Polls place him among the favorites, but he has already shown resistance to joining the PL party. The party's national leadership itself is said to have given up trying to convince him, fearing that his entry into the party would diminish his influence. Tarcísio is the main leader of his current party, Republicanos.
Without the possibility of counting on Bolsonaro in the race, the PL is working with two internal alternatives: former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro, who has strong appeal among conservative and evangelical voters, and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), who already occupies a prominent position in national politics. Both emerge as options to maintain the Bolsonaro family's influence at the forefront of the presidential race.
With this move, the PL seeks to consolidate its position as the main opposition party to the Lula government, maintaining the strategy of linking its electoral future to the figure of the former president, even if outside of the direct contest.
