Senador Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), a pre-candidate for the presidency, said he has no plans to end or change Brazil's minimum wage.
The statement addresses viral social media rumors suggesting that Bolsonaro's campaign intended to eliminate the wage floor. Because the minimum wage is a critical economic safeguard for millions of Brazilian workers, any perceived threat to its existence can significantly shift voter sentiment during a presidential cycle.
During an interview with CNN Brasil in March 2026, Bolsonaro addressed the claims. He said it is "fake news" that his campaign is discussing changes to the minimum wage [1]. The senator sought to clarify his position to stop the spread of misinformation regarding his economic platform [1], [2].
"I do not intend to end the minimum wage," Bolsonaro said [2].
Beyond the discussion of labor protections, the senator highlighted concerns regarding the country's fiscal health. He said that the public debt increased by R$7.2 billion per day during March 2026 [1]. This focus on debt suggests a campaign strategy that balances the maintenance of social protections, and a push for stricter fiscal discipline.
Bolsonaro's denial was later corroborated by a Reuters fact-check, which confirmed that there is no evidence of a plan to abolish the wage [2]. The senator's appearance on the CNN Brasil program served as a primary vehicle to reach a wider audience and neutralize the rumors before they could gain further traction in the pre-campaign period [1].
“"I do not intend to end the minimum wage."”
By explicitly denying an intent to remove the minimum wage, Flávio Bolsonaro is attempting to insulate his presidential bid from accusations of attacking the working class. The simultaneous mention of rising daily public debt indicates a strategy to frame himself as a fiscal conservative who can manage the economy without dismantling essential social safety nets.
