Senator Flávio Bolsonaro launched his presidential campaign by utilizing AI-generated imagery and rhetoric linked to his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro [1].
The strategy seeks to consolidate the existing Bolsonaro political base. By leveraging the legacy of the former president, Flávio Bolsonaro aims to legitimize his candidacy amid ongoing political crises in Brazil.
The campaign began with a kickoff event on July 16, 2026 [1]. During this launch, the senator visited historic sites linked to his father's political career to engage supporters. The event featured the reading of a letter and the presentation of an AI-generated video of Jair Bolsonaro [1].
Following the initial rally, the Partido Liberal (PL) officially nominated Flávio Bolsonaro as its candidate for the presidency of the republic on July 25, 2026 [2]. The nomination formalizes his position as the party's primary vehicle for maintaining the movement's influence in the upcoming election cycle [2].
The use of artificial intelligence to simulate the former president's presence marks a specific tactical shift in the campaign. This approach allows the candidate to maintain a direct symbolic link to the previous administration's imagery and messaging, even in the absence of the former president's physical participation.
Flávio Bolsonaro is the son of Jair Bolsonaro and currently serves as a senator [1]. His campaign continues to focus on the mobilization of the PL base through these shared symbols [2].
“Flávio Bolsonaro launched his presidential campaign by utilizing AI-generated imagery and rhetoric linked to his father.”
The deployment of AI-generated content to simulate a political predecessor suggests a new era of legacy-based campaigning in Brazil. By substituting a physical presence with a digital surrogate, Flávio Bolsonaro is attempting to transfer his father's populist appeal to his own candidacy while bypassing potential legal or physical constraints that might limit the former president's direct involvement.
