Flávio Bolsonaro Launches Presidential Campaign, Vows to Fight 'Terrorists'

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, officially launched his presidential campaign on Sunday, launching sharp attacks against incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Speaking to hundreds of supporters on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Bolsonaro vowed to treat drug traffickers as "terrorists."

Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of Jair Bolsonaro, accused Lula of "indebting" Brazilians, engaging in distant international disputes, causing significant losses to state-owned companies, and neglecting the fight against organized crime. He criticized the current government's perceived lack of control over borders, suggesting either complicity with or incompetence in dealing with organized crime.

"I will recover Brazil's sovereignty. I will treat (the gangs) PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital), Comando Vermelho (CV), and the militias (paramilitaries) as terrorist organizations," he declared, aligning his stance with that of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Bolsonaro positioned himself as the candidate to confront what he termed Brazil's "rotten" political system and promised tax cuts, reduced bureaucracy, and fewer government positions if elected.

He asserted his unique credibility to restore Brazil's global standing. During his speech, he also vehemently defended the legacy of his father, Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently barred from holding office and under house arrest for allegedly plotting a coup against Lula after the 2022 election loss. Flávio described his father as an "honest man" who was a "last obstacle" to the country descending into dictatorship.

Flávio Bolsonaro, a 45-year-old lawyer, kicked off his campaign from a trailer on Copacabana beach, wearing a yellow t-shirt that read "Brazil is my party." He wore a bulletproof vest due to receiving multiple death threats, according to his advisors. Recent polls indicate Flávio Bolsonaro starts with a slight disadvantage against Lula, though they are technically tied in a potential second-round runoff.