Family feud erupts as Michelle Bolsonaro accuses presidential hopeful stepson of disrespect

BRASILIA, June 25 — Brazil's former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro accused her stepson Flavio Bolsonaro today of disrespecting her during a phone call, months before he is due to contest elections as a conservative presidential candidate.

The pair have been clashing over which candidates their far-right Liberal Party (PL) will field in the October polls.

Flavio's father, Jair Bolsonaro, served as president under the same party from 2019 to 2023 but was later convicted for an attempted coup.

Michelle, 44, took to Instagram yesterday to say Flavio called her and "was very rude" after the two aired their disagreements. Flavio denied her claims.

A far-right darling in her own right, Michelle is the head of the PL's women's wing and a regular speaker at conservative rallies.

Her name was put forward by some factions as a possible presidential contender after Jair was sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup following his 2022 election defeat.

But Flavio, 45, was ultimately picked as a preliminary candidate in December with his father's blessing.

However, he has fallen behind incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in polls following a scandal over an alleged multi-million-dollar scam linked to him by leaked audio.

Flavio said he was surprised by his stepmother's video.

"I have never disrespected, mistreated, or humiliated a woman in my life. I would never do that to my own father's wife," he said on X.

Last year, Flavio accused his stepmother of being "authoritarian," though he later said they had apologized to each other. — AFP