Bolsonaro's Son Signals He May Drop Out of Brazil's 2026 Presidential Race. Brazil’s political scene just got shaken again. Senator Flávio Bolsonaro — eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro — now says he might not run for president next year, despite earlier saying that his father had personally chosen him as the Liberal Party's presidential candidate. That earlier announcement rattled markets, which had expected a more experienced right-wing contender to emerge. Speaking after a church service on Sunday, Flávio said a final decision will come Monday, but hinted he may step aside — and only "at a price”. He refused to say what that cost might be, but speculation is swirling that it could involve Congress passing a pardon for those jailed over the January 2023 riots when Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings.. Jair Bolsonaro himself is currently serving a 27-year sentence after being convicted of plotting a coup following his loss to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2022. With Brazil entering a heated election year, Flávio's potential withdrawal could reshape the entire right-wing landscape — and signal deeper negotiations happening behind the scenes.