São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas highlighted the march led by Deputy Nikolas Ferreira as a courageous movement that gathered 18,000 people in Brasília. The bolsonarista act solidified Ferreira as a national PL electoral arm for the 2026 elections. Lula's government aides downplay the mobilization, linking it to distractions from scandals.
The bolsonarista demonstration held on Sunday (25) in Brasília marked the consolidation of federal deputy Nikolas Ferreira (PL-MG) as the party's national electoral arm. Estimates from the Monitor do Debate Político do Cebrap and the NGO More in Common indicate the event drew 18,000 participants, exceeding initial expectations amid heavy rains in the Federal District.
The march, started in Paracatu (MG) and covered over seven days, generated significant buzz on social media and attracted support from allied politicians. Despite initial advice against it, former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro endorsed the act, signaling unity on the right after recent tensions. These disputes included Tarcísio's cancellation of a visit to Jair Bolsonaro on January 22, seen as distancing, but reversed with a rescheduled meeting and public statements supporting Flávio Bolsonaro's presidential pre-candidacy.
In an interview with Jovem Pan on Monday (26), Nikolas backed Flávio's candidacy, stating: "The only leader of the right has already given his blessing to his son, Flávio. That's crystal clear". He criticized demands for total agreement with Bolsonaro, saying: "Bolsonaro is the leader of the right, of course he is. But people think we have to agree 100%, otherwise you're a traitor".
Tarcísio, from the Republicanos party, praised the initiative in a statement on Monday, calling it an expression of "broad societal clamor" and warning of a moral crisis worse than the fiscal one. He described the 29-year-old Ferreira as "a great leader" and "anointed boy" for his mobilization skills.
From the government side, Minister Guilherme Boulos (PSOL) accused the act of diverting attention from scandals involving evangelical churches and Banco Master. Lula's aides acknowledged the turnout but deemed it lower than the opposition desired. A lightning strike hit protesters during the rain, injuring dozens, which PT leaders like José Guimarães and Lindbergh Farias criticized as organizer irresponsibility for ignoring weather conditions and traffic rules on BR-040.
