A political dynasty? Why the Bolsonaro family dominates Brazil’s right wing

A family affairFormerly a long-serving member of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies, Jair Bolsonaro has become the fulcrum for a political movement based around his own nuclear family.Each of his four sons has embarked on a political career. In October's general election, his second oldest son Carlos is running for a Senate seat. His youngest son Jair Renan is competing for the Chamber of Deputies.Meanwhile, his third son, Eduardo, moved to the United States in 2025 to lobby President Donald Trump for help with his father’s trial.He lost his congressional seat that December because of repeated absences, and in June, a Brazilian court ruled that Eduardo's efforts amounted to illegal foreign interference.Even former First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro commands her own political clout, enjoying immense popularity among Brazil's conservative evangelical Christians.In the lead-up to the 2026 election season, Michelle was floated as a possible right-wing candidate for the presidency. But in December, Jair offered a jailhouse endorsement to his son Flavio.Though imprisoned, the ex-president remains a powerful figure in the Liberal Party, a right-wing juggernaut.Columnist Fabio Zanini, a political ana...