In a recent announcement made in Brasília, Flávio Bolsonaro has declared that Carlos Bolsonaro and Carol De Toni will be the pre-candidates for the Liberal Party (PL) for the Senate seats up for grabs in Santa Catarina. This confirmation is part of a strategic move ahead of the upcoming 2026 elections where two Senate positions will be contested in the state. The announcement signals a resolution to recent internal disputes within the party concerning the candidates, which saw divisions and threats of party exits, particularly from De Toni.

The political landscape for the PL in Santa Catarina has been tumultuous as tensions rose among party officials regarding Senate candidacies. In the previous months, Carlos Bolsonaro, who previously served as a city councilor in Rio de Janeiro, expressed his intent to shift his candidacy focus from Rio de Janeiro to Santa Catarina, causing further rifts within the party. Flávio Bolsonaro's announcement emphasized that the current governor, Jorginho Mello, will run for re-election, while the party solidifies its strategy for the Senate with their chosen candidates, highlighting the importance of unity within the party.

As the political climate evolves leading up to the 2026 elections, the decisions made now by the PL could significantly influence their competitiveness in Santa Catarina. The pre-candidacies of Carlos Bolsonaro and Carol De Toni not only represent a strategic alignment but also a potential consolidation of support for the party. Observers will be closely watching how the internal dynamics within the PL unfold as the election draws nearer, particularly after the turmoil experienced in recent weeks regarding candidate selection.