Politics · Brazil · 1 day ago
Flávio Bolsonaro appears at Rio church event with simulated vote appeal
Senator Flávio Bolsonaro sang at a church service in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, held to mark 100 years of the Assembly of God Ministry Madureira.
Bishop Samuel Ferreira led the crowd in repeating “brother votes for brother” and said he would vote for Flávio, while repeatedly insisting he was not asking for votes.
Ferreira later called Flávio the country’s future president, and the crowd chanted “It’s 22,” a reference to the candidate’s ballot number.
Flávio said the church was asking for votes, and he spoke about what he called a spiritual battle facing Brazil.
The bishop also expressed support for former president Jair Bolsonaro and criticized his imprisonment.
Using a church’s authority to influence worshippers may be treated by electoral courts as abuse of religious power, although that category is not in Brazil’s electoral code.
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Senator Flávio Bolsonaro sang at a church service marking the centenary of the Assembly of God Ministry Madureira in Rio de Janeiro.
Bishop Samuel Ferreira led a chant of “brother votes for brother” and made repeated remarks praising Bolsonaro while saying he was not asking for votes.
Ferreira called Bolsonaro the future president of Brazil, and some attendees shouted “It’s 22,” referring to his ballot number.
Bolsonaro said the church was asking for votes, despite the bishop’s denial.
The report says use of a church’s authority for political influence may be treated by electoral courts as religious-power abuse, although that category is not in the electoral code.
- Who
- Senator Flávio Bolsonaro and Bishop Samuel Ferreira were the central figures.
- What
- Bolsonaro appeared at a church service where Ferreira made a simulated appeal for votes and praised him.
- When
- Saturday, October 10, 2026.
- Where
- Maracanãzinho gymnasium, northern Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Why
- The service celebrated the centenary of the Assembly of God Ministry Madureira.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
If the media here present says I am asking for votes, it is completely mistaken. I am only saying brother votes for brother.
I would ask for votes for Flávio, because Flávio is honest.
The bishop did not ask, but the church is asking.
What I can say is that we will roll up our sleeves. We will break through the siege.
Flávio Bolsonaro sang at a service celebrating the church ministry’s centenary.
The congregation repeated “brother votes for brother” 14 times as Samuel Ferreira led the chant.
Ferreira praised Bolsonaro while saying he was not asking for votes, then called him the future president.
- Venue
- Maracanãzinho gymnasium, northern Rio de Janeiro
- Event
- Centenary celebration of the Assembly of God Ministry Madureira
- Date
- Saturday, October 10, 2026
- Chant
- Brother votes for brother” was repeated 14 times
- Ballot reference
- Attendees shouted “It’s 22
Sources
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