Brasília, 6 December (H.S.):

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, currently imprisoned for plotting a coup, has endorsed his eldest son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, as the right-wing Liberal Party's presidential candidate for the 2026 election, a move confirmed by party leader Valdemar Costa Neto. Flavio announced the backing on social media Friday, calling his father Brazil's greatest political and moral leader and pledging to continue his national project.

The endorsement, relayed during Jair's visit to federal police offices in Brasília where he serves a 27-year sentence, disappointed investors expecting a more market-friendly contender like São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas to challenge leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Brazilian markets reacted sharply, with the real weakening nearly 2% against the US dollar and the Bovespa index plunging 3-4% amid fears of political instability.

Flavio, 44 and a senator since 2019, positions himself as a steadier heir to his father's far-right base compared to brothers Eduardo and Carlos, though analysts warn his candidacy may fracture conservative unity and alienate centrists. Barred from office until 2030, Jair Bolsonaro—condemned by the electoral court in 2023—remains the party's honorary leader, shaping the race from behind bars.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar