The post appeared on the political organization’s official WhatsApp channel and showed the lawmaker’s face in black and white, surrounded by the phrase “Tropa do Flavio” (Flavio’s Squad), repeated multiple times.

The design bore similarities to a historic image of Mussolini displayed on the facade of the Palazzo Braschi in Rome, alongside the Italian word “SI” (Yes).

When contacted by the news outlet ICL Noticias, the PL denied any deliberate reference to fascism and attributed the resemblance to coincidence.

The organization stated that the material was created by the Young Liberal Party and inspired by vintage graphic designs; it added that the material had already been withdrawn and apologized for the content and its potential interpretations.

Historian Odilon Caldeira, a professor at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora and coordinator of the Far-Right Observatory, considered the resemblance to Italian fascist propaganda to be evident.

However, he noted that the post did not necessarily aim to attract neo-fascist sectors. In the researcher’s view, the piece could be part of a communication strategy designed to provoke reactions from political adversaries and shift the electoral debate toward a discussion on the ideological nature of Bolsonarism.

jdt/ga/mar