Brazil: Bolsonaro's party fails to register Flávio's candidacy two days before deadline

Brazil's Liberal Party, the political vehicle of the Bolsonaro family, was unable to file Senator Flávio Bolsonaro's presidential candidacy with the Superior Electoral Court on Thursday. The problem arose because the electoral system had registered Flávio as a member of a different party.

The deadline for submitting candidacies expires Saturday at 7pm, and party officials are in contact with the court to try to correct the registration error. It remains unclear whether the issue is a technical glitch or part of a deeper administrative dispute.

The setback leaves Flávio Bolsonaro's position in the presidential race in doubt, at a moment when pre-election polling had shown a tightening contest against Lula. The episode has added new tension to one of the country's most closely watched political stories.