Valdemar Costa Neto, national president of the Liberal Party (PL), said the party needs Michelle Bolsonaro to participate in Flávio Bolsonaro's election campaign.
This internal tension highlights a potential rift within the PL's strategy. Because Michelle Bolsonaro maintains a significant base of support, her active involvement is viewed by party leadership as a decisive factor in securing a victory for Flávio Bolsonaro.
Speaking to the press in Brasília on July 2, 2026 [1], Costa Neto said the strategic importance of the former first lady. "Precisamos de Michelle na campanha de Flávio," he said [1]. He said her presence is fundamental to mobilize voters who remain undecided [2].
However, reports regarding Michelle Bolsonaro's willingness to participate are contradictory. Costa Neto said that Michelle does not want to be part of the campaign and suggested she might even withdraw from her own bid for the Senate [1]. This contrasts with other reports indicating that she has expressed a desire to be part of the campaign efforts.
The uncertainty surrounding her role has led to further internal debate. Some observers suggest that her potential departure from the presidency of PL Mulher could create a setback for the campaign, while others argue that the current crisis merely exposes existing divisions within the party.
Costa Neto's public comments underscore the party's reliance on the Bolsonaro family brand to maintain its electoral momentum. The PL continues to navigate these internal dynamics as the election cycle progresses.
“"Precisamos de Michelle na campanha de Flávio."”
The friction between the PL leadership and Michelle Bolsonaro reveals a vulnerability in the party's reliance on individual family influence rather than a unified institutional platform. If Michelle Bolsonaro chooses to distance herself from Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign, the PL may struggle to capture the specific undecided demographic that views her as a primary draw, potentially weakening the party's overall electoral strength in the Senate race.
