Politics · Brazil · 5 hrs ago
Former Lula ministers Aldo Rebelo and Mangabeira Unger back Flávio Bolsonaro
Former ministers Aldo Rebelo and Mangabeira Unger backed Flávio Bolsonaro in Brazil’s 2026 presidential runoff.
They met the senator in São Paulo on October 21, and the meeting lasted about an hour.
Both men held ministerial roles in earlier Lula governments, making their support a shift from their past political associations.
The discussion included their intellectual input for Bolsonaro’s government plan and possible involvement in selecting people for a future administration.
Rebelo is being considered for an environment leadership role, while Unger may advise the president on strategy and international affairs.
The campaign hopes their support will attract centrist voters and people who admire the two figures.
The sources do not say whether either man will take a government post; those roles would depend on Bolsonaro winning the runoff.
Former Lula ministers Aldo Rebelo and Mangabeira Unger formally backed Flávio Bolsonaro in Brazil’s 2026 presidential election runoff.
They met Bolsonaro in São Paulo on October 21 for a meeting lasting about an hour.
The discussion included intellectual contributions to Bolsonaro’s government plan and possible roles for the two men in a future administration.
Rebelo is being considered for the Environment Ministry, while Unger is seen as a possible adviser on national strategy and international relations.
Unger travelled from Boston, where he lives and teaches at Harvard, to attend the meeting.
- Who
- Former ministers Aldo Rebelo and Mangabeira Unger backed Senator Flávio Bolsonaro.
- What
- They formally declared support for Bolsonaro in the 2026 election runoff and discussed contributing to his government plan.
- When
- October 21, 2026.
- Where
- São Paulo, Brazil.
- Why
- They discussed what Bolsonaro’s allies called the “rescue of Brazil” and the possibility of helping shape his government and its team.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Aldo Rebelo was launched as a presidential pre-candidate for the Christian Democracy party, but the bid did not proceed.
Rebelo and Unger met Flávio Bolsonaro in São Paulo and formalized their support for him in the runoff.
- Meeting date
- October 21, 2026
- Meeting location
- São Paulo
- Meeting length
- About one hour
- Unger’s workplace
- Harvard University
- Rebelo’s possible role
- Environment Ministry
- Unger’s possible role
- Adviser on national strategy and international relations
3 sources
What people are saying
Mangabeira would be an adviser to the presidency on special matters; that all fits him, and that is where he will contribute intellectually