by Marcelo Hailer
There are still fifteen days left until the second round of the 2026 elections, yet Flávio Bolsonaro, from Brazil’s Liberal Party, is already speaking as if he has been elected president of Brazil.
On Wednesday, Flávio Bolsonaro once again escalated his rhetoric against the Supreme Federal Court, reiterated his call for constitutional changes, and criticized the functioning of democratic institutions.
Candidate Flávio Bolsonaro arrives to vote at a polling station in Rio de Janeiro on October 4, 2026. (Photo by Wagner Meier/Getty Images)
Bolsonaro said that, if elected, he intends to remain “in power for decades” alongside his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently imprisoned for an attempted coup d’état.
“They're in despair, but it’ll be the end of the Lula era, and we will remain in power for decades… with President [Jair] Bolsonaro by my side,” he said. “He will walk up that ramp with me.”
Flávio Bolsonaro Escalates his Rhetoric and Threatens the Supreme Court
Flávio Bolsonaro escalated his rhetoric against Brazil’s Supreme Court and said that, if elected president, he intends to adopt a confrontational stance toward the court. These statements were made during the event that formalized support from the Republicanos Party for his candidacy.
In his speech, Flávio Bolsonaro criticized the court’s actions and once again advocated for what he calls the “redemocratization of the country,” asserting that institutions must regain the respect they deserve.
“We have to seek stability in this country,” he said. “We cannot accept the Supreme Court as it currently stands. We must protect our institutions. We shouldn’t just bow our heads and pretend everything is fine, simply because of one or two individuals. Everything isn’t fine. Even between yesterday and today, parts of the press have been questioning, and it is the press’s role to question, my statement that we need to redemocratize Brazil. We must redemocratize, because institutions need to be respected once again.”
Flávio Bolsonaro highlighted the new makeup of the National Congress, which, according to him, will have a center-right majority starting in January.
Bolsonaro also stated that the political alignment between a potential administration of his and the new Congress could facilitate the implementation of his proposals.
“Look at what the Brazilian people said at the polls,” he said. “Look at the National Congress that will take shape in January. I don’t think any Brazilian President with my profile has ever been such a good match for a Congress like this center-right one, where the majority is established based on shared policy agendas.”
Flávio Again Calls for Changes to the Constitution
During a press conference held on Tuesday, Flávio Bolsonaro again called for changes to Brazil’s 1988 Constitution. He made his statements alongside Ronaldo Caiado, the presidential candidate for the center-right Social Democratic Party, PSD. The statement sparked reactions from various sectors, which perceived an authoritarian undertone in Bolsonaro’s remarks.
Despite the response, Flávio Bolsonaro did not back down from his proposal to change the Constitution. On Wednesday, he spoke with journalists after a meeting with the Progressive Union, a group of three far-right parties that support his candidacy. Bolsonaro revealed what he intends to change in the Constitution. He said that he plans to promote changes such as lowering the age of criminal responsibility, reforming the judiciary, and ending reelection.
“I have long been in favor of lowering the age of criminal responsibility,” he said. “This must be done via a proposal for a constitutional amendment. There are aspects of the tax reform that also need to be changed via an amendment. And the end of re-election.”
Flávio Bolsonaro then elaborated on his plans to end reelection and possibly change term lengths.
“Whether it will be a four-year or five-year term. Whether it applies only to the president or also to governors... The legislative process will be respected, and the majority will decide what needs to be done,” he said. Ït is a matter of political reform.”
Later, while justifying his proposal to amend the Constitution, Bolsonaro said that Brazil is not currently a full democracy.
“Do you think Brazil is a full democracy today?” He asked. “Think about it. Is Brazil a full democracy? I’ll get to that. Now, we have to respect the political process. There are various possible options.”
Flávio Bolsonaro: “We Are Going to Change the Constitution.”
The former governor of Goiás and PSD presidential candidate, Ronaldo Caiado, met with Flávio Bolsonaro on Tuesday. Following the meeting, he officially pledged his support for the senator’s bid for the presidency.
After the meeting, Flávio Bolsonaro and Ronaldo Caiado addressed activists and the press. In his remarks, Caiado said that he would throw himself “wholeheartedly” into the senator’s presidential campaign.
“You’re in the runoff. You have my respect,” said Caiado. “I am going to join you wholeheartedly, out of conviction. I am facing this fight head-on. Flávio, believe me, if there is one man who wants to see you hand Brazil back to Brazilians, it is me. I will undoubtedly stand by your side.”
Flávio Defends “Redemocratizing” Brazil
During his speech, Flávio Bolsonaro called for changes to the Constitution and took the opportunity to send a message to Brazil’s centrist political bloc, known as the Centrão. He said that his party would have the strength to elect the next presidents of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
“We have elected a Congress that is much further to the right than it is today,” said Bolsonaro. “With a majority in the Senate to elect the Senate President, and a majority in the Chamber to elect the Chamber President, we can amend the Constitution, redemocratize this country, and ensure that institutions once again respect the Constitution.”
This article was originally published by Revista Forum. It was translated by Panamerican Dispatch. You can read the original in Portuguese, here.