Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro is once again in the spotlight: The Supreme Court has ordered an ankle monitor due to a potential flight risk. The accusation is that he attempted to seize power after his election defeat. Support is coming from the United States – to the displeasure of President Lula.
In Brazil, former President Jair Bolsonaro must now wear an ankle monitor to prevent a possible escape from the country. Investigators also searched the home of the right-wing populist ally of US President Donald Trump on Friday and instructed him not to use social media or contact diplomats, members of his party said.
Bolsonaro is suspected of attempting to prevent the transfer of power to his successor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, after his election defeat in 2022. Supporters of the right-wing populist stormed the government headquarters in Brasilia in January 2023, attempting to trigger a military coup.
Bolsonaro himself stated that he had never considered fleeing the country. He described the measures imposed on him by the court as his"greatest humiliation." US President Trump had previously intervened in the investigations against Bolsonaro, pushing for their closure and portraying the former president as the victim of a"witch hunt."
On Thursday, Trump posted a message to Bolsonaro on his Truth Social network:"I have seen the horrific treatment you are receiving at the hands of an unjust system stacked against you. This process should end immediately." Bolsonaro thanked Trump for his support in a video also posted on Thursday.
Last week, the US president also announced tariffs of 50 percent on imports from Brazil, citing alleged unfair trade practices and the investigations into Bolsonaro as justification. Brazilian President Lula da Silva responded on Thursday by stating that he would not take orders from a"gringo."
The Supreme Court also prohibited Bolsonaro from contacting his son, Eduardo. Eduardo is a congressman in Brasilia and has advocated for his father in Washington. CNN Brasil reported that the court orders against Bolsonaro were based on the risk of him fleeing to the United States. Bolsonaro's lawyers protested the measures ordered by the Supreme Court and emphasized that Bolsonaro has so far complied with the court orders.