Bolsonaro formally endorses son Flávio as 2026 presidential candidate in handwritten letter

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro formalized his endorsement of Senator Flávio Bolsonaro as a presidential candidate for 2026 in a handwritten letter read publicly on Thursday morning.

The senator read the letter aloud outside DF Star Hospital in Brasília, minutes before Bolsonaro underwent abdominal hernia surgery scheduled for 9 a.m. In the document, Bolsonaro stated that his decision was "conscious and legitimate."

According to Flávio Bolsonaro, the letter was delivered to him on December 23 by a member of his father's legal team while Bolsonaro was at the Federal Police Superintendency, where the former president is detained. Bolsonaro requested that the contents be read publicly on December 25.

The letter, titled "Letter to Brazilians," combines a personal assessment of Bolsonaro's post-presidency period with a political gesture of succession. In the opening, Bolsonaro states he has faced "harsh battles," paying a high price with his health and family to defend his positions. He references what he describes as injustice and commits to ensuring that popular will is not silenced, framing his decision to indicate Flávio as a candidate within this context.

Flávio Bolsonaro addressed questions about whether his father had formally validated his candidacy, stating that the letter removes any doubt on the matter. He noted that many people had said they had not heard confirmation directly from Bolsonaro himself.

Bolsonaro is undergoing surgery to correct abdominal hernias, a procedure that follows medical interventions he has required since suffering a knife attack during the 2018 electoral campaign. In recent months, the former president reported episodes of pain, intestinal obstructions, and general malaise, leading medical professionals to recommend the surgical procedure. He was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday.