PL can launch Michelle Bolsonaro as a presidential candidate in 2026

The national president of the PL, Valdemar Costa Neto, said this Friday (27) that the party is considering launching former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro as a candidate for the Presidency of the Republic in 2026, if former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) have no interest in running in the next election. The statements were made during an interview for the CNN Brazil.

When asked about the national majority election dispute, Valdemar declared that the former first lady would be a strong candidate for the presidency in 2026 for the party, also citing the current governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema (Novo) and the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans). Currently, the two are not affiliated with the PL. Report by People’s Gazette showed that the PL is already discussing a “plan B” without Bolsonaro as the main candidate in 2026.

“If Bolsonaro does not want to be a candidate, we also have Michelle. She revealed herself at the launch of Bolsonaro at Maracanã (at the PL’s national convention). It was a surprise for all of us. Bolsonaro, if he is a candidate, will be very strong. If he is not a candidate, he will be even stronger, because this right-wing movement is here to stay,” he said.

“So if there is another candidate with Bolsonaro supporting him, he does not bring his rejection, which he passed on to Lula. The comrade did not want to vote for him (Bolsonaro) because he hated Bolsonaro. He voted for Lula, he had no other option. So he supporting another candidate, we will be unbeatable in the next elections”, declared the president of the PL.

According to Valdemar, the former first lady has not spoken to him since returning to Brazil. “Didn’t talk. We want now, when Bolsonaro arrives, to get her into the PL Mulher. She will give talks in Brazil to bring women to the party. Women are better than men,” she said. “Michelle was a success. I think she can make a great contribution to the country and to the party,” said Valdemar.