Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) read a letter from his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, urging him to set aside differences with former First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro [1].

The appeal comes as the Bolsonaro family attempts to mitigate political damage caused by a public dispute between the senator and the former first lady. Maintaining a unified front is considered critical for the stability of the PL-RJ campaign in Rio de Janeiro [2].

During a campaign event in Rio de Janeiro on June 11, 2026 [1], Flávio Bolsonaro shared the message from his father. In the letter, Jair Bolsonaro said the parties should "deixar as diferenças de lado" — or leave the differences aside [1]. The letter served as an appeal to Michelle Bolsonaro to help contain the fallout from the friction with her stepson [1].

Allies of Michelle Bolsonaro later said that the public reading of the letter was a strategic move. According to a report on June 25, 2026, these allies said that the video of the event pressured Flávio Bolsonaro to engage in conversation and create more space for Michelle within the campaign structure [2].

The internal tension has sparked reactions from former associates. On June 15, 2026, Fábio Wajngarten, the former communications chief for Jair Bolsonaro, responded to criticisms from a friend of Michelle Bolsonaro by referring to certain critics as "Blogueiros de lixo" [3].

Despite these clashes, the family's primary goal remains the cohesion of the PL-RJ ticket. The use of a formal letter during a public rally indicates an effort to perform reconciliation for the benefit of voters, and party members [1], [2].

“"deixar as diferenças de lado"”

The public reconciliation attempt highlights the precarious balance of power within the Bolsonaro political dynasty. By using a public campaign event to broadcast a private plea for unity, Jair Bolsonaro is attempting to project strength and stability to the electorate while managing the competing ambitions and personal grievances of his closest family members.