Dispute over a seat in Santa Catarina sparks crisis within Bolsonaro's camp.
Carlos Bolsonaro's candidacy for the Senate sparks crisis in the Santa Catarina PL party and accusations of betrayal.
247 - Santa Catarina, the third state that gave Jair Bolsonaro (PL) the most votes in 2022, has become the new epicenter of an internal dispute within the former president's political group. The clash, which involves local and national Bolsonaro leaders, revolves around the choice of a Senate candidate in the 2026 elections and reveals an attempt by the Bolsonaro clan to protect itself politically.
According to FSPThe conflict involves, among its protagonists, state representative Ana Campagnolo (PL), federal representative Caroline de Toni (PL-SC), Rio de Janeiro city councilman Carlos Bolsonaro (PL), Governor Jorginho Mello (PL), and Senator Espiridião Amin (PP-SC). The internal crisis exposed strategic differences, accusations of disloyalty, and a dispute over control of the Bolsonaro movement in Santa Catarina.
The beginning of the split
Since June, when Jair Bolsonaro announced that he would launch his son Carlos's candidacy for the Senate in Santa Catarina, turmoil has gripped Bolsonaro's base. The state's right wing was already orchestrating two candidacies: that of federal deputy Caroline de Toni and that of Senator Amin. The former president's decision to support his son changed the landscape and was seen as an imposition "from above," prioritizing family interests and attempting to protect Carlos from potential legal challenges.
The choice of Santa Catarina was strategic: the state is largely favorable to Bolsonaro's ideology and represents fertile ground to guarantee a secure election for the former president's political heir. However, the move went against the wishes of local leaders who were already preparing for the contest.
Caroline is sidelined and her allies are in conflict.
Governor Jorginho Mello, who is seeking re-election in 2026 and is trying to build an alliance with the PP to challenge the mayor of Chapecó, João Rodrigues (PSD), informed congresswoman Caroline de Toni that she would have to leave the PL if she wanted to maintain her pre-candidacy for the Senate. As a result, Caroline was removed from the race—a decision confirmed by allies and interpreted as a direct consequence of Carlos Bolsonaro entering the race.
Without speaking out because she is in the final stages of pregnancy, Caroline's main spokesperson was state representative Ana Campagnolo, who publicly criticized the maneuver. "I spoke with Caroline and Governor Jorginho a little while ago. Both confirmed that she will be forced to leave the PL. With her arrival, she lost her place in the party," Campagnolo wrote on social media.
Reactions from the Bolsonaro clan
The statement angered the former president's sons and provoked an immediate reaction. Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP) published a text on social media accusing Campagnolo of disloyalty. “What is unacceptable is asking for our support and, in return, denying support and subordination. It's unacceptable to want the benefits of leadership but refuse the burdens that come with it,” he stated. He classified the state representative's remarks as “totally unacceptable.”
Campagnolo responded ironically, reminding Eduardo that he had disagreed with his father on previous occasions: “You contradicted your father when the possibility of him launching Tarcísio for the Presidency was raised. And perhaps he will. What will happen then? Why can you express your disagreement and the other allies can't?”
Carlos Bolsonaro also spoke out, stating that he renounced a "stable and predictable future" out of loyalty to principles. "Today, unfortunately, it is notorious that many of those who benefited from this journey treat former allies as disposable," declared the councilman.
Attempts at containment and new support
The crisis escalated when former First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro (PL) publicly expressed support for Caroline de Toni, reinforcing the split between the party's factions. Despite the conflict, allies are trying to minimize the impact. The PL leader in the Chamber of Deputies, Sóstenes Cavalcante (RJ), summarized the situation as a "dispute over space and convictions," adding that "the only place where everyone needs to think alike is in a dictatorship. That's not the case with the PL."
Amid the tensions, Senator Espiridião Amin preferred to stay away from the controversy. “There are no controversies. I'm not going to comment on anything. I'm a pre-candidate for the Senate, I depend on my health, my party, and my federation. This will be discussed next year,” he said.
Political calculation
With Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest, the move to launch Carlos's candidacy for the Senate reflects more than just an electoral contest—it's an attempt to maintain the family's power within the PL party and secure a loyal base in Congress. However, this strategy has deepened divisions within the group and called into question the ability of Bolsonarism to maintain cohesion in one of the states most loyal to the former president.
The race for the Senate in Santa Catarina, which could have consolidated the influence of Bolsonaro's movement, now symbolizes its greatest challenge: reconciling family ambitions and political interests without fragmenting the base that has sustained the movement since 2018.
