Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, whom his father Jair named as his political heir, is in a statistical dead heat with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in polls ahead of the October 4 election, as a corruption probe and other scandals shadow his campaign.
In September, it emerged that Flávio Bolsonaro was under investigation for alleged corruption and money laundering linked to financing Dark Horse, a biopic about his father bankrolled by jailed banker Daniel Vorcaro, who is jailed in a multimillion-dollar fraud case. Bolsonaro first denied any contact with Vorcaro or flying on his private jet, then acknowledged both after leaks from the investigation.
Jair Bolsonaro is absent from the campaign and under house arrest for plotting a coup after losing Brazil’s 2022 election. Flávio, 45, presents himself as a more moderate Bolsonaro and says his father remains his compass. He has praised El Salvador President Nayib Bukele’s security policies and called for Brazil to build many prisons. His stepmother Michelle accepted his public apology after accusing him of disrespect, but did not attend any of his rallies.
