Flávio Bolsonaro, the Liberal Party (PL) candidate for Brazil’s presidency, said Sunday that he would preserve Bolsa Família, the country’s flagship cash-transfer program for low-income families, but argued that welfare should be the beginning of a path out of poverty rather than its endpoint.
Speaking at a PL convention in Paraíba, a state in Brazil’s Northeast, Flávio said beneficiaries should not fear losing the program under his administration. “I will guarantee it for you,” he said, according to CNN Brasil. He then asked whether receiving the benefit was the legacy families wanted to leave to their children.
From Aid to Independence
Flávio linked the program to a broader argument about employment and individual independence. “A benefit, Bolsa Família, should not be the final destination. Protection should be the beginning of the journey,” he said.
He also accused the current government of wanting millions of Brazilians to remain dependent on it. “Do you have a plan to stop being poor? If you do not, I have a plan for you,” he said, adding that his goal was for people not to depend on politicians for anything.
The candidate did not provide further details in the speech about how his proposed plan would reduce poverty or connect Bolsa Família recipients to jobs. He also addressed public security and water supplies in the semi-arid hinterland, or sertão, of the Northeast.
The Northeast’s Electoral Role
Flávio portrayed the region as central to his campaign. He said the Northeast had helped “change Brazil” in 2018 and would do so again in 2026. He also said that, if elected, he planned to return to João Pessoa in 2027 with his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro, to thank voters.
The remarks came as the PL formally organized its slate in Paraíba. Senator Efraim Filho was officially nominated for governor, while Nayana Pontes, the wife of federal lawmaker Cabo Gilberto, was announced as his running mate. The decision was finalized behind the scenes shortly before the convention.
The convention also approved former Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga’s candidacy for the Senate. CNN Brasil reported that six candidates had been announced for the governorship of Paraíba.
This is based on single-source reporting from CNN Brasil. The article reports Flávio’s statements and the convention’s nominations but does not independently assess the feasibility of his proposals or provide polling data for the state or the presidential race.