2026 Brazil Elections: Controversy over Our Lady of Aparecida Pits Lula Against Flávio Bolsonaro
With one week to go before the first round, a rumor attributing to Flávio Bolsonaro the intention to strip Our Lady of Aparecida of her title as Brazil's patroness is dividing Lula and the PL senator; the issue has reached the TSE and STF and is shifting poll numbers among Catholics and Evangelicals.
Six days before the presidential first round, scheduled for Sunday, October 4, the campaign is centering on Our Lady of Aparecida. Since the night of September 23, a claim has been circulating on social media that Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL)—if elected—would strip the saint of her title as Brazil's patroness. The candidate denies this; there is no bill pending from him or his family regarding the matter. The claim stems from a 2007 bill introduced by another pro-Bolsonaro lawmaker, which was rejected and shelved in 2008. Justice André Mendonça, at the TSE, ordered the removal of posts presenting this association as fact, deeming it "notoriously untrue." Justice Flávio Dino, at the STF, overturned the order in the name of freedom of expression and called for a plenary session.
Lula, appearing on the Band program *Canal Livre*, stated that "messing with Our Lady of Aparecida is unacceptable" and recalled the incident involving the kicking of the statue. When asked if it was fake news, he replied: “I don’t know if it was fake news.” Journalist Adriana Araújo interrupted him: “But it *was* fake news, wasn’t it, Mr. President?” PT allies, including Janja and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, circulated images and videos defending the Catholic tradition. Flávio accused the PT of having “started” the rumor “with the help of people inside the CNBB.” The bishops rejected the accusation: “You don’t fight a lie with another lie.” On Monday the 28th, in São Paulo, Flávio and Governor Tarcísio de Freitas held up a crocheted figure of Our Lady of Aparecida together.
The Quaest poll, conducted between September 24 and 27—with the rumor already circulating—shows Lula at 39% in the first round and Flávio at 34%. In a hypothetical runoff, they are tied at 42%. Among Catholics, Lula rose from 43% to 48% in the first round and from 46% to 50% in the second. Among Evangelicals, Flávio remains in the lead (46% and 54%) but has slipped by three and four points, respectively. Analysts also point to Lula’s provisional measure regarding online betting. The rumor does not create a policy that does not exist; it does, however, place the patron saint at the center of an election that is decided, in part, by the religious vote.
“O dado concreto é que está na rede social”, diz presidente Lula ao ser alertado por jornalista após citar Fake News envolvendo Nossa Senhora Aparecida. pic.twitter.com/44cZh5rRxy — Sam Pancher (@SamPancher) September 28, 2026
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