André do Prado, president of the São Paulo Legislative Assembly, wants to retain Eduardo Bolsonaro as the substitute candidate on his Senate ticket for São Paulo.
The arrangement is critical for the Liberal Party (PL) as it attempts to maintain a unified front of Bolsonaro-aligned representation during the 2026 elections [3]. However, the alliance is strained by internal disputes and the threat of judicial intervention.
Eduardo Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, has confirmed his role in the ticket. "Confirmo que serei suplente na chapa de André do Prado ao Senado," he said in May.
Despite this confirmation, the ticket has become a flashpoint for friction within the right-wing coalition. In May 2026, disputes emerged between Eduardo Bolsonaro and a former minister, exposing a rift in the party's local organization. During this period, Eduardo Bolsonaro criticized the former minister, saying he "se transformou em meme por ser biruta de vento político e pede mais maturidade" [1].
Beyond internal political bickering, the PL is monitoring legal vulnerabilities. A party spokesperson said on May 13 that the PL is already evaluating the removal of Eduardo Bolsonaro as a substitute if he faces a conviction from the Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) [2]. This potential disqualification has led some party allies to project his withdrawal from the ticket before the campaign officially begins.
Do Prado's desire to keep Bolsonaro on the ticket suggests a strategy to preserve the symbolic weight of the Bolsonaro name in São Paulo. The state remains a primary battleground for the PL as it seeks to consolidate power in the 2026 Senate race [3].
While the party leadership remains divided, the decision to keep or remove the substitute candidate will likely depend on the timing of STF rulings, and the ability of the PL to manage its internal factions.
“"Confirmo que serei suplente na chapa de André do Prado ao Senado."”
The tension over Eduardo Bolsonaro's position reflects a broader struggle within the Brazilian right to balance ideological loyalty to the Bolsonaro family with the pragmatic need for legally viable candidates. If the STF issues a conviction, the PL may be forced to prioritize electoral safety over symbolic alignment, potentially deepening the rift between the party's institutional wing and its more populist base.
