Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro stated on Sunday that former president Jair Bolsonaro could participate in a future government if elected, but any decision would rest entirely with his father.
Speaking in an interview with TV Record, the Liberal Party candidate said he had never discussed the possibility of a cabinet role with his father. He added that if the former president wished to hold a position, the choice would be his to make.
The senator noted that while he did not know whether his father would want a role as a minister, he expected him to serve at least as an advisor. He emphasized that he continues to listen to the former president today.
Flávio Bolsonaro is a senator and member of the conservative Liberal Party, known in Brazil as the Partido Liberal. He is the eldest son of Jair Bolsonaro, who served as Brazil's president from 2019 to 2022 before leaving office following his election defeat.
Amnesty proposals and court criticism
During the interview, the candidate reiterated his support for granting amnesty to individuals involved in the January 8 riots in Brasília. He declared that his supporters will work in Congress to pass an amnesty bill, and affirmed that he will grant presidential pardons to those involved if Congress does not pass the legislation in time.
The January 8 events involved thousands of supporters of Jair Bolsonaro who stormed major government buildings in Brasília, including the National Congress, the presidential palace, and the Supreme Federal Court, following the 2022 presidential election.
Flávio Bolsonaro also criticized the legal proceedings against his father before the First Panel of the Supreme Federal Court, which convicted the former president of attempting a coup d'état. He described the trial as a major farce and claimed that his father was judged by political enemies.
Supreme Court appointments and future plans
The senator specifically named Supreme Federal Court justices Flávio Dino, Cristiano Zanin, and Alexandre de Moraes, criticizing their conduct throughout the case against Jair Bolsonaro.
The Supreme Federal Court is Brazil's highest judicial authority, responsible for constitutional matters and high-level political cases. Justices Dino and Zanin were appointed to the tribunal by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, while Justice Moraes has spearheaded high-profile investigations into anti-democratic actions.
Looking ahead to his potential administration, Flávio Bolsonaro stated that he intends to nominate Supreme Court justices who hold conservative views opposed to abortion and illegal drugs. He said his appointees must be patriots committed to restoring legal certainty and rebuilding public trust in the country's highest court.
