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Sep 30, 2026
Marçal Backs Flávio Bolsonaro as Zema Stays in the Race
Marçal and Flávio Bolsonaro present their alliance as a practical bid to expand entrepreneurship and financial opportunity, while Zema’s decision to remain a candidate underscores that the wider effort to unite support behind Flávio has not yet succeeded.
Pablo Marçal has endorsed Flávio Bolsonaro’s presidential campaign and is expected to help shape proposals on entrepreneurship and social mobility. The alliance brings together Flávio’s appeal for broader political support and Marçal’s stated interest in economic autonomy and income generation.
At an event in São Paulo, Flávio described entrepreneurship as a central point of agreement, saying Marçal had consistently brought to politics a concern that he also shares: “bringing entrepreneurship to all of Brazil.” He said his campaign wanted to broaden policies aimed at financial independence and job creation.1
Marçal’s role, as described by Flávio, would extend beyond a simple endorsement. “Pablo Marçal is coming to help us in this area of entrepreneurship, of social mobility,” Flávio said, while Marçal urged voters who may be unenthusiastic about the election to turn out for him.2 The endorsement follows the electoral court’s rejection of Marçal’s own presidential registration, citing party-affiliation issues and an existing electoral ineligibility ruling.1
The partnership has also been amplified by allies online. Allan Dos Santos reposted a Korean-language message expressing support for Flávio Bolsonaro from South Korea’s Freedom and Innovation Party.
3 In a separate post, he welcomed what he called support from a South Korean politician, writing: “The good people united!”
4
But the alliance has not resolved the question of whether other candidates will step aside. Commentator Rodrigo Constantino argued that the best scenario would be for Romeu Zema to criticize Lula in a Globo debate and then announce both his support for Flávio and his withdrawal.
5 Zema, however, decided to keep his candidacy through the first round, despite pressure for an immediate alliance. That leaves Marçal’s endorsement as a gain for Flávio, but not yet the broader consolidation some supporters seek.1