Brazil’s main right-wing party officially nominated Senator Flávio Bolsonaro on Saturday to challenge leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the presidential election scheduled for October.

The nomination was announced during a Liberal Party conference in São Paulo, where Bolsonaro addressed supporters alongside his wife.

Flávio, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, declared that “Bolsonaro blood runs here” while pointing to his arm. His father, who governed Brazil between 2019 and 2022, is currently imprisoned over an attempted coup case.

Argentine President Javier Milei, one of Latin America’s most prominent right-wing leaders, travelled to Brazil to attend the announcement and publicly support Bolsonaro’s candidacy.

The Bolsonaro family also maintains close political ties with US President Donald Trump.

Lula, 80, currently leads in voter support according to the latest Datafolha poll. He has served as president since 2023 after previously holding office from 2003 to 2011.

His left-wing Workers’ Party is expected to formally announce his candidacy in August.

Brazil, Latin America’s largest economy, will hold its presidential election on October 4. If no candidate secures an absolute majority, a runoff will take place on October 25.