Candidates to run for President of the Republic in the 2026 elections commented on the Federal Police (PF) operation that targeted former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) this Friday, 18th. The former Chief Executive was also subjected to restrictive measures, such as the use of an electronic ankle bracelet, by order of Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the Supreme Federal Court (STF).

The governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), one of the most likely candidates to run for the presidency with the support of the former president, came out in defense of his ally .

Without directly citing the Supreme Court, Tarcísio stated that there will be no peace without free elections and said that"time will bring justice." He believes that the "successive mistakes we are seeing are taking Brazil off its path."

"I don't know anyone who loves this country more, who has sacrificed more for a cause, than Jair Bolsonaro. I can't imagine the pain of not being able to speak to a son. But if humiliation brings sadness, time will bring justice," said the governor, referring to the court's ban on Bolsonaro communicating with other people under investigation, including federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP).

"There will be no peace until we find a path to balance. There will be no social peace without political peace, without a long-term vision, without free, fair, and competitive elections. The succession of mistakes we are seeing unfold is taking Brazil off its path," he stated.

The governor, who last week became a target of Bolsonaro supporters for defending a diplomatic solution to the taxation imposed by Trump , also stated in the note that “courage is an attribute that anyone who knows Jair Bolsonaro knows he has never lacked.”

"He didn't fail to show up when attempts were made on his life. He didn't fail to address the unprecedented crises this country faced when he was president. He didn't fail to defend freedom, values, ideals, and fight injustice. And he won't fail to show up now, because he knows we are and will continue to be by his side," Tarcísio concludes.

Another name considered to dispute the position in the political field of the right, the governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema (Novo), classified the operation and the determinations of the STF as “political persecution” .

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“I’m beginning to question to what extent our Judiciary has operated to do justice or to do politics,” he said in an interview with Estadão/Broadcast.

"The action against Bolsonaro is political persecution. He's going through this because he's the biggest right-wing leader in Brazil," Zema said."The judiciary has been persecuting the right and letting criminals go free. I haven't seen anyone arrested for robbing the coffers of the elderly people at the National Institute of Social Security (INSS)," he criticized.

Zema also assessed that the court decision against the former president should further intensify pressure from US President Donald Trump on Brazil, especially after the announcement of the 50% surcharge on Brazilian products, scheduled to come into effect in early August.

The governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite (PSD), told the newspaper Correio do Povo that he is concerned about an escalation in the “heightening of tensions” surrounding the case.

"I'm aware of the incident, but I don't have the information to comment on the decision. I reaffirm my confidence in Brazilian institutions and our judiciary. What worries me most is precisely the heightened tension and tension this creates in a very sensitive environment," he said.

The governor of Rio Grande do Sul also lamented what he called the “political exploitation” of the case, targeting the 2026 elections in Brazil.

"What we're seeing in the United States is this tension that generates these decisions by President Trump. On the other hand, here in Brazil, the correct defense of the national interest eventually spills over into a campaign of electoral political interest, which overrides the country's own interests," said Leite.

Former president's son criticizes measures

The son of the former president, licensed congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP) stated that Moraes “doubled down” by authorizing the warrants and restrictive measures. The congressman has lived in the United States since the beginning of the year.

Eduardo asked the US to “send a response” to what he called “the new Brazilian censorship model” and stated that Minister Alexandre de Moraes is challenging Trump.

"What he's doing is basically humiliating. And he's challenging President Trump in front of everyone. The good thing about this is that he's showing that he's the dictator," said the former president's son,"03," in an interview with strategist Steve Bannon, a former Trump adviser.

Other right-wing figures and Bolsonaro allies, the governor of Paraná, Ratinho Jr . (PSD) and the governor of Goiás, Ronaldo Caiado (Union) have not yet spoken out.