São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas canceled a planned visit to former President Jair Bolsonaro in prison on Thursday (22) to avoid what allies call a 'kiss of death'. The decision followed statements by Senator Flávio Bolsonaro about his presidential candidacy and expected support for it. The visit would have been the first since Flávio's announcement as Jair's candidate against Lula.
São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos) decided to cancel the visit he would make to former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL), imprisoned at the Military Police Battalion known as Papudinha in Brasília. The meeting was scheduled for Thursday (22) and would have been the first private encounter between the two since December, when Senator Flávio Bolsonaro announced his pre-candidacy for the Presidency of the Republic as chosen by his father.
According to Flávio's allies, Bolsonaro intended to confirm to the governor that his son is his presidential candidate and request more explicit gestures of support. On Tuesday (20), Flávio publicly stated that Tarcísio would hear from Bolsonaro the importance of his re-election to the São Paulo governorship to defeat the PT nationally. This statement was the trigger for the cancellation, according to sources close to the matter.
Tarcísio's press office said the visit was postponed due to commitments in the state, without specifying dates or events, and that a new date would be requested. During an event in São José da Bela Vista (SP) on the 20th, the governor said he was going to express solidarity to a 'great friend' and reinforce support, referring to Bolsonaro.
The tension reflects divisions on the right. Councilwoman Janaina Paschoal (PP-SP) criticized Flávio, calling him a 'daddy's boy' for declaring a presidential candidacy by Tarcísio discarded, and advocated uniting the right to 'rein him in'. Paschoal supports a Tarcísio-Michelle Bolsonaro ticket for 2026. A Flávio ally warned that Tarcísio's 'embarrassed' support could cost votes in São Paulo.
Bolsonaro indicated Flávio in a handwritten letter released on December 25, after a canceled interview with Metrópoles due to health issues and family opposition. Tarcísio, who says he is focusing on re-election, must decide by April whether to run for the Planalto, the period for stepping down from office.
