Michelle Bolsonaro faces internal PL pressure over Senate candidacy

Former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro is at the centre of a dispute within Brazil’s Liberal Party (PL) about whether she will run for the Senate from the Federal District. After a video in which she said she was mistreated by her son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, she stepped down as head of PL Mulher, sparking tension in the party.

PL president Valdemar Costa Neto has publicly urged her to “put her head in place” and has said he wants to meet with her to ensure she files her candidacy. Other party figures, such as Fortaleza councilwoman Priscila Costa, called for reconciliation and warned against feeding the conflict. Federal deputy Bia Kicis stressed that the focus should be on the “pure slate” for the Senate and avoided criticizing Michelle. Former minister Simone Tebet, while condemning attacks from the far‑right, noted the episode reflects broader misogynistic rhetoric.

Party insiders say Michelle remains the favourite candidate for the DF Senate race and could serve as a campaign bridge for Flávio Bolsonaro’s presidential bid, but the internal feud continues to shape PL’s strategy ahead of the 2026 elections.