Flavio Bolsonaro Retracts 'Price' Remark and Reaffirms 2026 Bid as "Irreversible"

Senator Flavio Bolsonaro on Tuesday sought to put to rest questions about his commitment to Brazil's 2026 presidential race, saying his candidacy is "irreversible" and denying he is openly bargaining to withdraw. He spoke with reporters outside the federal police complex in Brasilia, where his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, is serving a 27-year sentence.

Clarifying Controversial Comments

Flavio's remarks follow a Sunday interview in which he surprised observers by saying he might step aside "for the right price." He later declined to specify what he meant, remarks that critics swiftly interpreted as a reference to his father's imprisonment. On Tuesday, Flavio pushed back on that interpretation and framed his position more forcefully.

"I told him this candidacy is irreversible," Flavio said. "And in his own words, 'We will not turn back.' Now it is time to talk to people, so we can have the right people on our side."

Legal Backdrop

The comments come amid a series of high-profile legal setbacks for Jair Bolsonaro. In September, a Supreme Court panel convicted the former president on five counts tied to attempts to overturn the 2022 election, including a charge alleging he sought the violent abolition of democratic rule of law. In November the panel ordered him into custody after he admitted to damaging his ankle monitor. Separately, Brazil's Superior Electoral Court ruled in 2023 that Jair should be barred from holding public office for eight years for abusing the presidency to spread election falsehoods.

Endorsements and Party Backing

Since Jair's detention, he has publicly endorsed his eldest son's bid. Liberal Party (PL) president Valdemar Costa Neto confirmed that Jair's backing effectively puts Flavio atop the party's 2026 ticket. Flavio has also picked up other right-wing endorsements, including from São Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas, who was earlier viewed as a potential PL frontrunner.

Criticism and Defense

Opponents seized on the "price" comment to question Flavio's ethics and commitment. Edinho Silva, president of the Workers' Party, said the remark suggested a willingness to negotiate away a candidacy. Flavio dismissed those attacks and tied the idea of a "price" directly to his effort to free his father.

"My price is Bolsonaro free and on the ballot," he said. "In other words, there is no price."

Whether that stance will consolidate support within the PL and among right-leaning voters remains uncertain. With President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who defeated Jair Bolsonaro in 2022, indicating he will seek a fourth term in 2026, the contest is already shaping up as a contentious rematch.