Presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro named conservative Congressman Alfredo Gaspar as his running mate on Wednesday, the final day of party conventions ahead of Brazil's October election, after other prospective picks failed to secure backing from their own parties.
Gaspar, 55, has represented the northeastern state of Alagoas in the Chamber of Deputies since 2023 and previously served two stints as the state's public security secretary. He led a congressional inquiry into alleged pension fraud at the National Social Security Institute, where his final report was voted down 19 to 12 and the panel concluded in March without an approved text. Senator Tereza Cristina and former Caixa Economica Federal chief Daniella Marques could not persuade their respective parties to endorse the ticket.
The selection comes as a Quaest poll showed President Lula leading Bolsonaro 44 percent to 39 percent in a simulated run-off, a narrowing from an eight-point gap in mid-July. Gaspar had launched his own Senate bid for Alagoas just a day earlier.