Pastor Silas Malafaia announced he may not support Flávio Bolsonaro in the 2026 presidential election, criticizing the idea of uniting the right around a single candidate. He indicated a preference for stronger contenders like Tarcísio de Freitas and questioned the senator's charisma.
Pastor Silas Malafaia, a prominent voice among conservative evangelicals, publicly revealed he may refuse to support Flávio Bolsonaro's pre-candidacy for the 2026 presidency. In a video released last week, he stated: "If the right has one candidate, I will support. If there are more than one, I will support the one I think has the best chance." This statement exposes internal tensions in Brazil's right-wing, where Malafaia suggests Flávio's run benefits the Bolsonaro clan more than the broader movement.
Flávio, a senator from Rio de Janeiro, is viewed by many Christian leaders as a direct extension of his father, Jair Bolsonaro, inheriting not only loyal support but also rejection from centrist voters. Those voters, according to the pastor, would likely choose Tarcísio de Freitas, São Paulo's governor. Flávio's pre-candidacy is criticized for explicitly politicizing faith, particularly after his second baptism in the Jordan River last week.
Recently, Flávio sought an alliance with pastor André Valadão of Lagoinha Church, but the timing was poor. The church is linked to scandals involving Banco Master and the CPMI do INSS, with figures like Fabiano Zettel and Daniel Vorcaro. Zettel, leader of Lagoinha Belvedere, was arrested while trying to flee the country and donated substantially to Tarcísio and Bolsonaro's 2022 campaigns. Valadão denied ties between his fintech Clava Forte and Banco Master but acknowledged investigations into a church member, possibly Felipe Macedo Gomes, former president of Amar Brasil Clube de Benefícios.
Resistance also comes from Michelle Bolsonaro, whom Flávio did not consult before announcing his pre-candidacy, despite informing Tarcísio. This oversight underscores Michelle's rise as an independent leader in evangelical bolsonarismo, contrasting with Flávio's position.
