Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) posted a video on Sunday, July 19 [1], and said that the purchasing power of Brazilians has ended.
The remarks come as Bolsonaro positions himself as a pre-candidate for the presidency, using the cost of living to criticize the current administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Filming inside a large supermarket, the senator compared current grocery prices with those from 2019, which marked the beginning of his father Jair Bolsonaro's term [2]. He said that everything has increased in price since that period [2].
Bolsonaro focused his critique on the erosion of consumer spending power under the current government. He said, "O poder de compra do brasileiro acabou" [1].
During the video, the senator highlighted the financial strain on citizens, suggesting that the economic situation has forced people into unconventional payment methods for basic needs. He said, "Os brasileiros estão parcelando até pizza no iFood" [3].
The video was shared across his social media profiles on July 19 [1]. By contrasting the current economic climate with the start of the previous administration, the senator aimed to argue that the cost of living has become unsustainable for the average citizen [3].
Bolsonaro did not specify the supermarket chain where the footage was recorded, but used the setting to visualize the impact of inflation on daily essentials [2]. He said, "Comparo os preços de hoje com os de 2019, início da gestão do meu pai, e vejo que tudo subiu" [2].
“"O poder de compra do brasileiro acabou."”
This move signals a strategic shift toward economic populism as the 2026 election cycle intensifies. By using a supermarket as a backdrop, Bolsonaro is attempting to translate complex macroeconomic data into a tangible, everyday struggle for voters, directly tying the current administration's performance to the individual's ability to afford food.
