India Naftali Interviews Eduardo Bolsonaro on Politics and 2026 Race
Tel Aviv — In an interview conducted by India Naftali, a renowned journalist specializing in international politics and Israeli affairs, federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, addressed key issues on both the national and global agenda. Among the topics discussed were Brazil–Israel relations, allegations of political persecution against the Bolsonaro family, and prospects for the 2026 presidential elections.
Brazil and Israel: Political Alignment
Eduardo Bolsonaro described Israel’s war as a clash between Western civilization and terrorism, rather than a conflict between nations or religions. He argued that the October 7 attacks made choosing sides “very easy” for those with a “correct moral compass.” The lawmaker emphasized the role of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as the “front line” of the West, while allied countries such as Brazil provide only “easy work” in the form of moral support. According to Eduardo, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s stance in favor of Hamas does not reflect the majority of Brazilians, whom he characterized as conservative and Christian.
Lula and the Brazilian Left
The deputy criticized what he called the “Red and Green alliance” between the left and Islamic fundamentalism, claiming it seeks to dismantle Judeo-Christian values and Western society. Eduardo pointed to Celso Amorim, Lula’s international adviser, who allegedly wrote the preface to a pro-Hamas book, as an example of this alignment. He also argued that Lula faces economic and international setbacks, particularly after his position on the Gaza conflict.
Political Persecution of the Bolsonaro Family
Eduardo denounced what he described as political persecution against his family. Jair Bolsonaro was convicted for an alleged coup attempt on January 8, 2023—an episode supporters dubbed the “Disney coup,” since the former president was in Orlando, Florida, at the time. Despite being under house arrest with an electronic ankle monitor and blocked from social media, Jair Bolsonaro continues to lead in opinion polls. Eduardo himself resides in the United States after threats of passport seizure by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, and faces charges that could result in more than 20 years in prison.
2026 Elections and Flávio Bolsonaro
Senator Flávio Bolsonaro has been named by his father as the family’s presidential candidate. According to Eduardo, Flávio already appears ahead of Lula in polls and is considered the “clear favorite” to win. Eduardo expressed concern for Flávio’s safety, citing violent incidents against right-wing candidates in Latin America, including the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio in Ecuador, the attack on Miguel Uribe in Colombia, the stabbing of Jair Bolsonaro in 2018, and the shooting of Donald Trump.
Interview in Portuguese:
