Bolsonaro's Downfall: Ex-Brazil President Arrested Amid Coup Conviction Fears
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{ "title": "Bolsonaro's Downfall: Ex-Brazil President Arrested Amid Coup Conviction Fears", "article": "Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro was taken into custody on Saturday, after a judge deemed him a flight risk following his conviction on charges of attempting a coup after his 2022 election loss. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the arrest, citing concerns that Bolsonaro's supporters might create chaos outside his residence, potentially allowing him to seek refuge at a foreign embassy in Brasilia. Bolsonaro, 70, was sentenced in September to 27 years and three months in prison for his alleged role in attempting to overthrow the government after losing the election to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Under house arrest since August, Bolsonaro was taken into custody by Federal Police and held at its headquarters in Brasilia. The arrest comes as Bolsonaro's lawyers continue to appeal the conviction, arguing that their client's advanced age and poor health warrant serving the sentence under house arrest. However, judges have yet to rule on this request. The case against Bolsonaro stems from an investigation into the January 2023 insurrection attempt in Brasilia, where thousands of his supporters stormed federal buildings and urged the military to oust Lula. Prosecutors charged Bolsonaro and seven allies, including military personnel and former cabinet members, with plotting an overthrow attempt that included plans to assassinate Lula, his vice president, and Moraes. The arrest marks the latest chapter in the swift downfall of Bolsonaro, who rose to power in 2018 on a wave of anti-establishment sentiment. The former Army captain's conviction has triggered a deterioration in US-Brazil relations, with the Trump administration imposing tariffs and sanctions in an attempt to aid Bolsonaro. However, Lula's approval ratings have surged since the tariffs were imposed, with the leftist leader now ranking as the most popular president in South America. The arrest has also complicated the Brazilian right's search for a challenger to Lula in the 2026 presidential elections, with Bolsonaro's family members and former allies emerging as potential candidates. "
