Renan Santos, the presidential candidate for the Missão party, stated he is not Nayib Bukele during a televised interview on public security [1].
The comments come as Santos attempts to define his law-and-order platform amid a crowded field of candidates in the 2026 election cycle. His approach to security is a central pillar of his bid for the presidency.
During the interview, conducted by journalists Renata Vasconcellos and César Tralli at a TV Globo studio, Santos addressed questions regarding his admiration for the crime-fighting methods of the El Salvador president [1, 2]. While acknowledging the effectiveness of those tactics, Santos distanced himself from the foreign leader's specific identity. "Eu não sou o Bukele," or "I am not Bukele," Santos said [1].
The interview was part of a broader series by Globo featuring six leading presidential candidates [4]. The series aims to scrutinize the policy proposals of the frontrunners as the election approaches.
Beyond security, Santos has outlined a broader government program. He presented this program on July 21, 2026 [3], shortly after officially launching his candidacy on July 20, 2026 [5]. His platform includes proposals to eliminate quotas, the Bolsa Família program, and favelas [3].
Santos also addressed his potential relationship with the judiciary and the legislature. He said that if elected, he would not comply with monocratic decisions from the STF — the Supreme Federal Court [1]. Instead, he said he intends to collaborate with the Centrão political bloc and establish specific goals for mayors [1].
The broadcast aired on August 5, 2026, and was distributed across G1 and GloboNews [1, 2].
“"I am not Bukele,"”
Renan Santos is positioning himself as a hardline security candidate who blends admiration for international authoritarian efficiency with a domestic strategy of legislative negotiation. By distancing himself from Bukele while praising his results, Santos seeks to appeal to voters desiring order without appearing to import a foreign model entirely. His stated intent to ignore specific Supreme Court rulings suggests a potential for significant institutional conflict between the executive and judicial branches if he wins.
