Flavio Bolsonaro visits father after court lifts ban ahead of Brazil runoff
Key Takeaways
- Family reunion: Flavio Bolsonaro visits his father after a court lifts a restriction imposed in July.
- Jair reacts: The former president is reportedly pleased with his son's first-round election performance.
- Run-off campaign: Flavio prepares for nationwide campaigning ahead of his October 25 contest against Lula.
The presidential candidate says Jair Bolsonaro is pleased with the first-round election results and remains hopeful about Brazil's political future.
Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro has reunited with his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, after a court lifted a restriction that had prevented him from visiting since July.
The Liberal Party (PL) candidate visited his father, who is under house arrest, at his residence in Brasília's Federal District on Tuesday, just days before the October 25 presidential run-off against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Speaking outside the housing estate, Flavio said his father was pleased with the first-round election results, which placed him ahead of Lula.
"I am leaving here very happy. He was very pleased with the result of these elections and that we came out ahead in the first round. He was very happy to have been heard by the majority of the Brazilian people, who gave a strong Senate for the legislature starting in 2027. They gave an even stronger Chamber, also further to the right," he said.
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Flavio also revealed that his father had offered advice about the campaign but declined to disclose the details.
"He is satisfied with the work that is being done. He is hopeful that Brazil is going to change. Obviously he gives us some advice here and there. I am just not going to make it public because it could really be interpreted in bad faith and end up being used against him," he added.
The visit followed a decision by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes on Monday to lift a restriction that had been in place for approximately 90 days.
The restriction was imposed after Flavio read a letter from his father on social media, violating precautionary measures.
With approval from the Public Prosecutor's Office, Moraes authorised the visits on the condition that they would not serve 'political-electoral' purposes.
The judge is also the rapporteur in the coup-plotting trial that led to Jair Bolsonaro's imprisonment.
Turning to the presidential race, Flavio accused Lula's Workers' Party (PT) of spreading false information and claimed that lying was the "main pillar" of the president's campaign.
He rejected suggestions that his campaign was already celebrating victory.
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"There is no 'we have already won' mood in our campaign. Everyone is out on the streets," he said.
Flavio announced plans to campaign across Brazil's south, north-east, north and south-east regions before the second round.
"We ask everyone to really take to the streets, take your children, take your family, take your Brazilian flag. Dress in your Bolsonaro T-shirt with great pride, because it will not be long before we take Brazil out of captivity," he added.
According to the reported October 4 first-round results, Flavio secured 47.03 per cent of valid votes, while Lula received 45.16 per cent.
Both candidates will contest the presidential run-off on October 25.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
