Flávio increases its presence in SP to gain ground in the pro-Tarcísio sector

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) increased his presence in the state of São Paulo seeking to gain the trust of the business world and the financial market, resisting his candidacy for election to the Presidency of the Republic in 2026.

The preferred name of these sectors is that of the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans). Resistance to the senator became evident when Jair Bolsonaro’s (PL) decision to support him was made public and the dollar soared, while the stock market collapsed.

Flávio now seeks to disguise himself as a moderate to try to capture the groups that continue to dream of the governor running for president. This involves spending much more time in São Paulo, home of Faria Lima, Fiesp and ruled by Tarcísio.

In less than two weeks, the senator from Rio visited the state of São Paulo three times. The first took place on 12/05, already appointed by his father, to speak to the governor about the choice of Jair Bolsonaro.

The following week, the senator met with business people and members of the financial sector. He returned to the state this Wednesday (12/17), for a meeting at the Riachuelo family home, in Jardim Europa, west of São Paulo, with around forty businessmen.

“Moderate Bolsonaro”

One of the organizers of Flávio’s incursions into São Paulo is Filipe Sabará, former number 2 of the Social Development Secretariat of Tarcísio and also a former member of Pablo Marçal’s (PRTB) campaign for mayor in 2024. Sabará should soon organize new events of this type to improve Flávio’s dialogue with these sectors.

This Wednesday, the senator attended the meeting strengthened after the Genial/Quaest electoral poll which showed his name with 13 points ahead of Tarcísio. At the end of the event, he emphasized that he was more moderate than his father, who is in prison.

“They have always asked for a more moderate Bolsonaro and I have always been like that. I am this more moderate, balanced and centered Bolsonaro and I hope that this also reflects the confidence of the population that we will present the best project for Brazil,” he said.

The businessmen who participated in the meeting left the lunch saying that Flávio’s candidacy “is firm” and that he wants to give himself the image of a moderate bolsonarista – a brand that Tarcísio has managed to consolidate among the business world.

Rejection and Centrão

The senator also argued that the State of São Paulo needs Tarcísio, at the risk of falling into the hands of Fernando Haddad (PT) if he does not run again. He also strengthened his friendship with Tarcísio and said that the alleged animosities published between the two are nothing more than “gossip.”

To seduce the market, Flávio promised to announce his economic team at the start of the campaign. However, the problem for Faria Lima is the strong rejection carried by the Bolsonaro surname. Despite recent favorable research, the impression remains that Tarcísio would have a better chance of defeating President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) in 2026.

In addition, he also faces resistance from Centrão, which dominates the partisan machine of some of the country’s main parties. Party leaders say he made a crucial mistake by announcing his pre-candidacy for the presidency of the Republic in 2026, without first discussing his candidacy with allied acronyms, like União Brasil and PP.

Flávio, Centrão members explain, reversed the order: he first publicly announced that he had his father’s blessing to be a candidate and only then looked for acronyms to present his name.