Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro's son, attends a worship service in Brasilia, Brazil, December 7, 2025. REUTERS/Adriano Machado

Sao Paulo governor offers support for Brazil Senator Bolsonaro's presidential run

· The Straits Times

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 8 - Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas said on Monday ‍that ​Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro will ‍have his support in a potential run for ​president ​next year, following days of silence about the matter.

"Flavio can count on us," Tarcisio ‍told reporters after an event. He added ​that he will ⁠always be loyal to the senator's father, former President Jair Bolsonaro.

On Friday, the younger Bolsonaro said his ​father, who is serving a 27-year sentence for a ‌coup plot in 2022, ​backed him for a presidential run next year, jilting markets that had bet on a more seasoned candidate consolidating support on the right.

Some investors had bet on Bolsonaro backing ‍a more market-friendly name with executive ​experience, such as the Sao Paulo governor, to ​challenge leftist President Luiz Inacio ‌Lula da Silva. REUTERS