Flávio Bolsonaro promises to 'rescue' Brazil and continue his father's legacy; launches presidential candidacy

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro officially launched his presidential bid, positioning himself as the heir to his father Jair Bolsonaro's political movement. Speaking at a convention for the Liberal Party (PL) in São Paulo, Flávio, the eldest son of the former president, pledged to "rescue" Brazil from what he described as a nation "hijacked" by the current government.

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I may be calmer and more moderate, but I carry Bolsonaro blood.

While acknowledging a different personal style, Flávio Bolsonaro asserted his commitment to his father's political ideology. "I may be calmer and more moderate, but I carry Bolsonaro blood," he stated, promising to honor the principles instilled by the former leader. His wife, Fernanda Bolsonaro, introduced him, emphasizing aspirations for a prosperous Brazil and highlighting the challenges of entrepreneurship and the need to address daily violence against women.

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I wish from the bottom of my heart that we can all live in that prosperous Brazil that Flávio dreams so much of building with all of us. As a dentist, I also know how difficult it is to start a business in this country, with the amount of taxes we have, and as a mother, I suffer even more.

Flávio Bolsonaro sharply criticized President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's administration, accusing it of fostering corruption, increasing the tax burden, persecuting political opponents, and curtailing freedoms. He framed his father, Jair Bolsonaro, as a victim of political persecution, citing the 2018 stabbing attempt, his imprisonment, and current "isolation and silencing" as attempts to suppress his influence.

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I no longer want to keep seeing news of women being assaulted and murdered every day in our country; this has to end, nobody can stand four more years of the PT.

Despite legal restrictions preventing Jair Bolsonaro from public appearances, an AI-generated message from the former president was played at the event. Flávio Bolsonaro declared that "no prison will silence the feeling of hope we awakened," reaffirming his father's status as the "greatest leader of the Brazilian right" and the primary inspiration for his candidacy. The campaign launch signals a determined effort to reclaim the presidency for the Bolsonaro political family.

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No prison will silence the feeling of hope we awakened.