Michelle Bolsonaro Leaves PL Mulher Amid Family Rift; Flavio Leads
Michelle Bolsonaro announced she is stepping down as president of the PL Mulher wing after a meeting with party leader Valdemar Costa Neto, saying she will devote herself to caring for her husband Jair Bolsonaro and their daughter. The resignation follows an escalating feud with her nephew, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, who criticized her for posting a video of ex‑governor Anthony Garotinho and called her “desinformada.” Flávio told party members the campaign would “pass over” the disagreements, stressing the need for unity.
Valdemar publicly rebuked the video, saying “Olha, ela fez muito mal de pôr o vídeo do Garotinho.” He later announced that the national presidency of PL Mulher will be abolished, shifting leadership to the states. Polls released by AtlasIntel/Bloomberg show that 86.9% of Bolsonaro‑supporting women prefer Flávio over Michelle, with only about 11% backing her. Analysts say Michelle’s departure could weaken the appeal of the campaign to female voters, though Flávio’s pre‑campaign events continue to target women and evangelicals.
The internal dispute, the restructuring of the party’s women’s branch, and the poll results together illustrate the challenges the Bolsonaro family faces as they prepare for the 2026 presidential race.