Flavio Bolsonaro
Flavio Bolsonaro is a Brazilian Senator and the right-wing candidate for the presidency of Brazil. The son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, he has positioned himself as a staunch ally of Israel, pledging to restore diplomatic ties and relocate the Brazilian embassy to Jerusalem.
Flavio Bolsonaro is a prominent figure in Brazil's conservative movement and a member of the Liberal Party (PL). As a Senator representing Rio de Janeiro, he has emerged as the primary political successor to his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro. His 2026 presidential campaign is built on a platform of economic liberalism, traditional values, and a significant realignment of Brazilian foreign policy toward a strategic partnership with Israel. This stance serves as a direct counterpoint to the administration of incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, whose tenure has been marked by diplomatic friction with Jerusalem and the withdrawal of Brazil's ambassador.
Bolsonaro's commitment to Israel is a central pillar of his international agenda. He has repeatedly vowed to return a Brazilian ambassador to Israel and to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move he argues would align Brazil with its democratic values and strengthen bilateral cooperation in technology, agriculture, and security. His candidacy has received visible support from Israeli leadership, including a recorded message from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu screened during his campaign launch in July 2026.
In the first round of the 2026 presidential elections held on Sunday, October 4, Bolsonaro outperformed pre-election polling, securing approximately 47% of the vote. While early tallies briefly showed him crossing the 50% threshold required for an outright victory, the final results confirmed a runoff against Lula da Silva scheduled for October 25. Bolsonaro's performance was bolstered by significant gains in traditionally left-leaning regions and a strong showing for his coalition in the Senate, where they secured roughly a third of the seats. He has characterized the result as a clear signal that "Brazil wants change," setting the stage for a high-stakes second round that will determine the future of Brazil's domestic policy and its standing in the Middle East.
