Bolsonaro's son to challenge Lula in Brazil presidential election

Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, has officially declared his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election. The announcement was made at his Liberal Party (PL) convention in São Paulo, positioning him as the challenger to the incumbent left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the October vote.

Jair Bolsonaro himself was recently sentenced to over 27 years in prison for attempting a coup. Flávio Bolsonaro, a senator, garnered support from Argentine President Javier Milei, a prominent figure on the political right in Latin America, who traveled to Brazil specifically for the PL's nomination convention. The Bolsonaro family also maintained close political ties with former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, currently leading in voter polls, has been president since 2023. He previously held the office from 2003 to 2011 and is a member of the Workers' Party (PT), which is expected to officially nominate him as its candidate in August.

The presidential elections in Brazil, the largest economy in Latin America, are scheduled for October 4. A candidate needs more than 50% of the vote to win in the first round; otherwise, a runoff election between the top two contenders will take place on October 25.