Brazil's Ex-President Jair Bolsonaro Arrested Ahead of 27-Year Sentence, Fueling Nationwide Tensions
Image Source: Internet
Brazil's federal police arrested former President Jair Bolsonaro on Saturday, citing a plot to escape and avoid serving a 27-year prison sentence for leading a coup attempt. The arrest has sparked widespread reactions, with many celebrating outside Bolsonaro's prison while others protested in his favor. According to the Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the arrest was a preventive measure to avoid a potential escape during a protest organized by Bolsonaro's son. De Moraes suspected that Bolsonaro might try to flee to the US Embassy in Brasilia or leave the country to avoid jail, given his history of seeking asylum in Argentina. Bolsonaro, 70, was under house arrest and required to wear an ankle monitoring device due to being deemed a flight risk. His lawyers claimed that the device was not tampered with, but de Moraes disagreed, citing a chance of Bolsonaro attempting to escape during the protest. The former president's arrest has been met with mixed reactions, with detractors celebrating online and scheduling parties in major Brazilian cities. Bolsonaro's allies, however, have vowed to defend him, with Fabio Wajngarten, his former press adviser and lawyer, calling the arrest a 'terrible stain on the institutions.' The Supreme Court panel that convicted and sentenced Bolsonaro will discuss and vote on the preemptive arrest on Monday. Bolsonaro's sentence is expected to begin next week after all appeals are exhausted. The move has significant implications for next year's presidential election, with incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva seeking reelection and Bolsonaro already barred from running. Creomar de Souza, a political analyst, believes that the arrest will force the Bolsonaro family to build their own alternative for the 2026 elections.
