Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro has formally launched his campaign to unseat President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in October's presidential election, promising tax cuts, tougher action on crime and a continuation of his father's political legacy.
The campaign launch in São Paulo featured support from Argentine President Javier Milei, a video message from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and an artificial intelligence (AI) generated address from former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving house arrest after being convicted over a plot to overturn the 2022 election result.
Addressing supporters waving Brazilian flags, Flavio Bolsonaro sought to present himself as the political heir to his father.
"Here is Bolsonaro's blood," he said.
The senator received a video endorsement from former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro, who recently reconciled with him following a public family dispute.
"Flavio, may God bless and protect your candidacy," she said.
Argentine President Javier Milei travelled to Brazil to attend the launch and used his speech to criticise Lula's government.
"We will continue offering our testimony everywhere against the lies of socialism," Milei said, adding that Bolsonaro could "save" Brazil from socialism.
Lula's office did not immediately comment on the event.
Despite the high-profile endorsements, Flavio Bolsonaro enters the race trailing the incumbent.
A Datafolha poll released on Friday put Lula ahead by 48% to 43% in a potential run-off, an increase from the previous month's survey.
The senator has also struggled to build support among centre-right parties, many of which have chosen to remain neutral rather than endorse his campaign.
His campaign has faced setbacks in recent months, including controversy over leaked messages linking him to jailed banker Daniel Vorcaro, who later acknowledged funding a film about Jair Bolsonaro's political career.
His close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump has also drawn scrutiny after Washington imposed tariffs on Brazilian goods.
The campaign launch came as Brazil denied visas to two senior officials from the Trump administration who had planned to visit the country ahead of the election.
According to Brazilian officials familiar with the decision, the visas were refused over concerns the visit could be used to undermine confidence in Brazil's electoral system.
One official said the government had seen evidence of "a renewed attempt to politically exploit the situation and undermine the electoral system".
The planned delegation included Riley M. Barnes and Samuel Samson from the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor.
However, the U.S. State Department insisted the visit would still go ahead between 27 and 30 July. A spokesperson said the officials would meet government representatives, religious leaders and civil society groups to discuss election integrity, religious freedom and freedom of expression.
The department dismissed suggestions the trip was intended to interfere in Brazil's election, calling such claims "baseless" and describing the visit as part of the bureau's routine work.
Questions over Brazil's voting system have once again become a political flashpoint.
Before the 2022 election, Jair Bolsonaro repeatedly questioned the reliability of electronic voting machines without providing evidence. Brazil's electoral court later ruled he had abused his office and barred him from standing for public office until 2030.
More recently, Flavio Bolsonaro has urged foreign governments to send observers to monitor October's vote. He also claimed Brazil's voting machines were manufactured by Smartmatic.
Both Smartmatic and Brazil's electoral court rejected that claim, telling Reuters the company has never supplied voting machines for Brazilian elections.
The senator has maintained that he has not questioned "the integrity of Brazil's voting system".
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