Flávio Bolsonaro Releases Diplomas Following Academic Record Errors

Presidential candidate and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro published images of his academic diplomas on social media after incorrect information regarding his education appeared on official websites and the internet. The controversy centered on claims that Bolsonaro had completed a postgraduate degree in Political Science at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). UFRJ stated that it found no record of Bolsonaro as a student, though it noted that his brother, Eduardo Nantes Bolsonaro, graduated from the institution with a law degree.

In his social media posts, Bolsonaro shared a law degree from Universidade Cândido Mendes, a specialization in public policies from the School of Public Policies and Government (also referred to as IUPERJ-UCAM), and an MBA in Entrepreneurship and New Business Development from Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV). He stated that his academic achievements were the result of years of study and dedication.

Bolsonaro's campaign described the incorrect UFRJ information as an error or mistake, suggesting the data may have been erroneously pulled from sources like Wikipedia. While the campaign stated they requested corrections for the information, reports indicated the error persisted on the website of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Alerj) even as it was removed from Wikipedia. Political opponents, including Renan Santos and Ronaldo Caiado, questioned why the false information appeared in official profiles and campaign biographies.

Center-leaning coverage focused on the act of publishing the diplomas to resolve doubts about his training. Center-right coverage provided more detail regarding the specific university's denial of his enrollment and the specific criticisms raised by political adversaries.