In the wake of her husband’s dramatic fall from power, Michelle Bolsonaro, Brazil’s former first lady, is pushing back against a flurry of speculation that she’s preparing to step into the political spotlight. Her husband, Jair Bolsonaro, once the face of Brazil’s right-wing movement, now finds himself sentenced to 27 years in prison for his role in a failed attempt to overturn the 2022 presidential election. Yet, despite mounting rumors and the hopes of some of her husband’s supporters, Michelle insists she has no current plans to run for office—at least not yet.
Speaking to Reuters in a rare written interview, Michelle Bolsonaro was unequivocal: “I may run for something or I may run for nothing. Right now, I have no plans of running, despite what some people are saying.” According to Reuters, she emphasized that any decision about her political future would hinge on the well-being and integrity of her family, mutual agreement with her husband, and, as she put it, “above all, the manifestation of God’s Will in my life.”
The 43-year-old, who has long championed religious and conservative values, has become a fixture in polls as the Bolsonaro family’s most popular figure after the former president himself—outshining even his sons, who are federal lawmakers. As president of the PL women’s movement, Michelle has had a visible role in her husband’s political party, but she remains adamant that she is not positioning herself as his successor. “The biggest name in the Brazilian right is my husband, Jair Bolsonaro,” she told Reuters, rebuffing the notion that she could be a running mate for São Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas if he launches a presidential bid.
Life for the Bolsonaros has shifted dramatically since Jair Bolsonaro’s house arrest was ordered by the Supreme Federal Court two months ago. The former president, once a brash and tireless campaigner, is now, as Michelle describes, “unplugged” and physically weakened by the court’s strict precautionary measures. “Together, these measures have reduced his immunity and worsened his health, requiring more dedication on my part to his recovery process,” she explained. Her concern is palpable: she fears that if her husband were moved from house arrest to a closed prison, his already fragile health could deteriorate further.
The couple’s daily routine is now shaped by constant federal surveillance and restrictions. Michelle described the “humiliation” of their new reality, echoing her husband’s own words from an earlier Reuters interview. “You can’t say everything is fine when, for example, the car that takes my daughter to school is searched every time she leaves or returns home,” she said. “I have been striving to ensure she doesn’t suffer even more amid so many humiliations.”
Jair Bolsonaro’s legal woes extend beyond his prison sentence. He is ineligible to run for office until 2030, following two convictions handed down by the Superior Electoral Court. This has fueled speculation among political observers and some right-wing supporters about who might lead the movement in his absence—speculation that Michelle is keen to tamp down. She criticized what she called premature efforts to name a successor for her husband in the 2026 presidential race, insisting that such discussions are not only unhelpful but also disrespectful to the family’s ongoing ordeal.
Meanwhile, the push for a pardon or amnesty for Jair Bolsonaro and others convicted in the coup plot has lost momentum in Congress. According to Reuters, polls and protests have shown that many Brazilians remain skeptical of granting clemency to those involved in the failed power grab. Michelle, however, continues to advocate for her husband’s release, joining many of his allies in calling for a pardon—though she acknowledges that the movement has lost steam amid waning public support.
The wider Bolsonaro family has also been caught up in the political and legal turbulence. Michelle defended federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro, Jair’s son, against rumors that his actions in the United States have negatively impacted his father’s legal situation. Earlier this year, Eduardo Bolsonaro moved to the U.S. in a bid to garner support from former President Donald Trump against his father’s conviction. This maneuver, however, triggered tariffs on Brazilian products and new restrictions on Brazilian authorities—a diplomatic headache that the government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is now laboring to resolve through renewed engagement with Trump, as reported by local media.
Michelle noted that the presence of Jair Bolsonaro’s stepchildren—except Eduardo, who is legally barred from contacting his father due to his activities in the U.S.—has been crucial during the ex-president’s house arrest. The family, she said, has rallied together to support Jair through what she described as a period of “humiliation,” marked by the indignity of electronic ankle monitors and the relentless scrutiny of federal authorities.
Despite the family's hardships, Michelle Bolsonaro’s public image remains strong among the conservative base. Her advocacy for religious and traditional values, coupled with her role as a supportive spouse during her husband’s political and personal crises, has kept her in the public eye. Yet she is quick to dismiss any suggestion that she is eager to capitalize on this popularity for her own political gain—at least for now.
“For now, there is no intention of running as some have claimed,” she reiterated to Reuters. She left the door open, however, for a possible future candidacy, observing that circumstances could change depending on her family’s needs and the “manifestation of God’s will.”
As the 2026 election approaches, Brazil’s right-wing movement finds itself at a crossroads. With its most prominent figure sidelined by legal troubles and his wife declining to step into the breach, the question of leadership remains unresolved. For now, Michelle Bolsonaro is focused on her family’s well-being, the health of her husband, and navigating the daily challenges of life under federal surveillance. Whether she will ultimately take up the political mantle remains to be seen, but for the moment, she insists, her priorities lie firmly at home.
