understand what pushed Bolsonaro to publish the letter formalizing Flávio for 2026

• Medical bulletin: Doctors say Bolsonaro is in the room and the operation went without incident.
• Data sheet: 35% identify with the right, 22% with the left and 17% with the center

Bolsonaro’s operation lasted about three and a half hours and, according to the medical team, was uneventful. The estimate is five to seven days of recovery; no increase is yet planned. Reading the letter yesterday anticipated his son’s support for the former president, at a time when Flávio is seeking to overcome obstacles and establish himself as a candidate. Outside the hospital, Flávio said the letter “removes the shadow of any doubt” about his pre-candidacy for president in 2026 and called for right-wing unity around his name.

— Since many people say they didn’t hear it from him, I think that removes the shadow of any doubt. For me it doesn’t change anything, but for those who still didn’t believe it could change — said the senator, adding that his goal is “to prevent the PT from destroying the country”: — I hope we unite. We must now seek unity to achieve this common goal.

In the letter, Bolsonaro affirms that the choice of Flávio represents the continuity of his political project. The former president also said he nominated his son because of what he called a “scenario of injustice,” in a veiled reference to his 27-year prison sentence in connection with the coup attempt, a sentence that barred him from running for office during that entire period.

“I entrust the most important thing in the life of a father: his own son to the mission of saving our Brazil. It is a conscious, legitimate decision and supported by the desire to preserve the representation of those who trusted me,” says the letter signed by the former president.

After reading the text, in addition to demanding the unity of allies around his candidacy, Flávio mentioned one of his brothers, Rio city councilor Carlos Bolsonaro, and his mother-in-law, Michelle. The senator said the three were “first and foremost concerned about the health” of the former president, and “then pursue” their electoral intentions.

Flávio is trying to overcome resistance to his pre-candidacy, although more recent research, which shows him ahead of other hot names on the right, has given him some respite. Before yesterday’s operation, it was expected that Bolsonaro would take advantage of an interview with the Metropoles portal, scheduled for Tuesday, to announce his son as his successor. The interview was canceled shortly before the scheduled time, however, as the former president cited health concerns.

If Bolsonaro’s letter, announcing his support for Flávio, had not been read yesterday, it was possible that the senator would enter 2026 without a public sign from his father confirming his pre-candidacy. Until then, the only statement regarding Flávio’s presidential candidacy had been made by the senator himself, in early December, when he said he had been authorized by his father to make the announcement.

Since then, the senator has been the subject of criticism from right-wing leaders close to his father, such as Pastor Silas Malafaia, and presidents of Centrão parties. Malafaia even said that Flávio did not have the “political strength” for an electoral race against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who will run in the elections. The pastor defended a team led by the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), and with former first lady Michelle as vice-president. The president of the PP, Ciro Nogueira, said that, despite his proximity to the son of the former president, politics “is not done only with friendship”, but rather “with research, feasibility and listening to allied parties”.

The choice of Flávio also generated resistance within the Bolsonaro family, notably Michelle. The former first lady, who was considering the possibility of running for president, yesterday posted a prayer request for her husband before the operation. She remained at the hospital after the procedure, accompanying the former president to the room.

Carlos, who arrived at the hospital with Flávio, said after the operation that doctors would still evaluate the need to carry out further procedures on his father, “due to persistent hiccups”. He also stayed at the hospital and said he was “helping Michelle with post-op care.”

The councilor complained about the security system surrounding the operation. He posted on social media a photo he took of his father during another hospitalization of the former president, in May this year; This time, the family was not allowed to bring their cell phones to the hospital.

“The number of police officers mobilized to monitor the proceedings and all movements exceeds any limit that any human being could consider reasonable – it is something absolutely incredible and embarrassing,” wrote Carlos, who has already announced his resignation from his mandate in the Rio Chamber to run for the Senate in Santa Catarina next year.

According to surgeon Cláudio Birolini, Bolsonaro’s operation went as planned. He said the former president did not need to be taken to the ICU, was speaking normally and continued to be well supported by the team. Bolsonaro was taken to the DF Star the day before yesterday, the day before the operation, in a convoy that left from the Federal Police (PF) superintendence in Brasilia, where the former president is serving a sentence for his conviction in the coup plot.

The hospitalization was authorized by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), after the PF expertise highlighted the need for medical intervention. The operation is considered elective, but it was indicated to avoid aggravation and possible complications of the former president’s constant hiccups, a consequence of the stabbing he suffered during the 2018 election campaign. The procedure involves general anesthesia and aims to reposition the abdominal contents and strengthen the muscles in the groin area, where the abdominal wall weakens.

After the procedure, doctors also detailed the situation of Bolsonaro’s persistent hiccups in recent months. Brasil cardiologist Ramos Caiado said the team has opted for a more conservative approach for the moment, but does not rule out carrying out in the coming days a new procedure to block the phrenic nerve, considered more invasive.

— We chose, as a precaution, to observe to see the necessity of this procedure. This could be done in the next few days, perhaps Monday. Let’s see what its clinical evolution is in relation to hiccups – he said.

According to doctors, hiccups may be linked to changes in the digestive system and, at present, there is no indication of a neurological complication. Defined management includes intensification of drug treatment, dietary adjustments, and monitoring of clinical response.