Overview
- Flávio Bolsonaro formally picked PL congressman Alfredo Gaspar as his vice-presidential running mate, an announcement made on Wednesday that ended weeks of speculation over the ticket.
- Gaspar is a 55-year-old former prosecutor and ex-secretary of public security for Alagoas who led a congressional probe of the National Social Security Institute (INSS), giving Bolsonaro a line of attack tied to allegations involving President Lula’s son.
- The selection exposed the campaign’s coalition problems after several higher-profile candidates, including Tereza Cristina and Daniella Marques, were blocked by their parties or declined to join the ticket.
- Bolsonaro’s campaign has been weakened by recent controversies — including revelations he sought funds from jailed banker Daniel Vorcaro and diplomatic tensions tied to U.S. links — even as polls show Lula still leading but with a smaller margin in simulated runoffs.
- The pick aims to shift the campaign onto public security and prosecutorial credibility, but it may do little to expand support in Lula strongholds such as Brazil’s northeast and leaves the campaign dependent on building broader party ties ahead of October.