Centrão Pressures Bolsonaro to Support Successor Outside the Family Before Serving Jail Time in Closed Regime

Pressure on Jair Bolsonaro (PL), convicted to 27 years and three months in prison for attempted coup, has intensified within the Centrão. Party leaders want the former president, who is still under house arrest, to indicate the right-wing candidate for 2026 — and the preference is for someone outside the family circle. The movement gained strength after Bolsonaro’s sentence was confirmed, with ongoing discussions involving São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos), favored by leaders like Antonio Rueda (União Brasil) and Ciro Nogueira (PP). At the same time, other Centrão members aim to avoid Bolsonaro or his children from being central figures in the presidential race. With the end of Bolsonaro’s trial, Centrão intermediaries see this as the right time to persuade him to support an external candidate. PL President Valdemar Costa Neto intends to talk to the former president to reach an agreement on his successor.