Flávio Bolsonaro announces his running mate for Brazil’s October election in a bid against Lula

Brazilian presidential hopeful Flávio Bolsonaro announced his running mate, Alfredo Gaspar, on Wednesday during an event in Brasilia. The 46-year-old lawmaker, who will become the vice presidential candidate in the upcoming October election, is the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro and a senator representing the Liberal Party.

The Liberal Party selected Gaspar as their presidential candidate last month. Facing pressure to secure a majority vote, the two candidates could face a runoff if neither reaches the required threshold.

Unlike his father, Flávio Bolsonaro did not receive support from centrist parties, making the selection of a running mate more challenging. Alfredo Gaspar, a member of Brazil’s lower house since 2023, has a background in law enforcement and public security. Before serving as a senator, Gaspar worked as a prosecutor and held the position of secretary of public security for Alagoas, a state in northeastern Brazil.

In his speech, Flávio Bolsonaro praised Gaspar for his courage, honesty, and impressive record in public security.

Gaspar acknowledged Flávio Bolsonaro's trust and pledged his commitment to their joint campaign, describing himself as a "simple person" from the northeast who has overcome hardships through hard work. Despite initially attempting to secure the support of Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina, Bolsonaro's political movement has historically struggled to attract female voters.