On September 7, 2026, a rally took place on Avenida Paulista, the main avenue of São Paulo, coinciding with Brazil's national holiday, Independence Day. Demonstrators, some carrying Brazilian flags alongside those of the United States and the United Kingdom, called for Donald Trump to intervene in Brazilian elections. A giant inflatable doll of U.S. President Donald Trump was displayed, holding a caricature of current Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in a prisoner's uniform. This rally was led by Flávio Bolsonaro, a senator from Rio de Janeiro and candidate for the presidential race, following his father Jair Bolsonaro's imprisonment for his role in the January 8, 2023, attempted coup. Flávio's lawyers advised him to avoid direct attacks against the electoral system and institutions, as his father had done, but he maintained a confrontational rhetoric to appeal to the Bolsonarist base. Flávio Bolsonaro, 45 years old, joined his father's legal team in March 2026 and was aware of the legal consequences of public statements, as his father's speech against the electoral system had led to his disqualification in the 2022 presidential race. Flávio sought to balance the need to appeal to the Bolsonarist base with the necessity to avoid legal repercussions. His political career began in 2002 when he was elected as a regional deputy to the Legislative Assembly of Rio de Janeiro at age 21. He later served four mandates and submitted 208 bills, of which 51 were adopted. His legislative work focused on public security, including proposals for harsher penalties and the relaxation of conditions for access to firearms. He also opposed racial quotas and defended the military dictatorship (1964-1985). Flávio's relationships with the security forces in Rio de Janeiro became problematic as militias gained power. In 2007, he publicly defended the legalization of militias and voted against a parliamentary commission investigating these groups. He was investigated in 2020 for alleged "rachadinha" (a practice involving public officials receiving a portion of their salary in exchange for their appointment), but the case was dismissed for procedural reasons. Flávio's political strategy in the 2026 presidential campaign included differentiating himself from his father by highlighting his vaccination status and presenting an image of a family man and believer. He also sought to align with international figures such as Donald Trump, Javier Milei, and Nayib Bukele. However, his public image varied depending on his audience, emphasizing budgetary responsibility to business leaders and presenting his candidacy as a divine mission to religious groups. Despite his attempts to moderate his stance, Flávio continued to defend the lowering of the age of criminal responsibility, harsher penalties, and the relaxation of gun ownership laws. He also proposed chemical castration for rape convicts and classifying criminal factions as terrorist organizations. On September 7, 2026, Flávio did not directly attack the electoral system but referred to his father's conviction as the result of political persecution and warned against possible interference in the elections. The rally took place amid a tight presidential race, with polls indicating a near-equal chance for Lula and Flávio in a potential second round. The Federal Supreme Court was also in crisis, with Minister André Mendonça questioning the contacts between Alexandre de Moraes and a banker accused of fraud. Flávio announced that, if elected, he would appoint five of the eleven Supreme Court judges, including the removal of Moraes. This proposal aimed to change the court's composition and potentially alter the balance of power against the Bolsonarist movement. Flávio's candidacy represents a new phase of Bolsonarism, seeking to continue his father's political project while navigating legal and political challenges. His campaign aims to secure his father's release and political rehabilitation, ensuring the movement's survival and evolution.