Brazil's Former President Faces Electronic Monitoring 'Humiliation'... Court Says He 'Shook the Nation'

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The Brazilian judicial authorities have ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to wear an electronic monitoring device (ankle bracelet) and imposed restrictions on his movements at night. This order is related to ongoing investigations into allegations of undermining national sovereignty and obstruction of justice.

According to Yonhap News, citing foreign media on the 19th, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes of the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court issued the temporary measures on the 18th (local time) after reviewing requests from the police and prosecutors.

As a result, Bolsonaro will be under house arrest from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. on weekdays, and all day on weekends and public holidays. In addition to wearing the electronic monitoring device, he is also prohibited from contacting foreign ambassadors and diplomatic officials, and from entering embassies.

The Brazilian Federal Police reported that they executed a search and seizure at Bolsonaro's residence around 7 a.m. that day and enforced the court order.

Jair Bolsonaro, Former President of Brazil, Yonhap News

The Brazilian Supreme Court believes that Bolsonaro and his son, Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, engaged in hostile acts by attempting improper contact with foreign governments and seeking to undermine the authority of the Federal Supreme Court. In his decision, Justice de Moraes stated, "This constitutes a criminal act of plotting a coup, as well as an attempt to involve foreign governments in subordinating the Brazilian judiciary to the United States."

According to the Brazilian Supreme Court, local police are investigating allegations that former President Bolsonaro and his son, Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, engaged in hostile acts, including improper negotiations with foreign entities, in an attempt to undermine the core functions of the Federal Supreme Court.

This judicial action is also intertwined with ongoing trade tensions between the United States and Brazil. Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently announced on social media that he plans to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports, citing the trial of Bolsonaro as one of the reasons. He criticized Bolsonaro's treatment as "an international disgrace and a witch hunt," and openly condemned the Brazilian government and judiciary.

Bolsonaro strongly objected to the measures. Speaking to Brazilian media outlets G1 and CNN Brasil, he called the electronic monitoring device "a humiliating act" and stated, "I never intended to go to a foreign embassy." In interviews with the press, he argued, "Brazil is not a model for the United States, and I can block China's influence in Latin America." He also warned, "If Brazil continues to trade oil with Russia, U.S. tariffs could rise to 100%."

After losing the 2022 presidential election, Bolsonaro was indicted on charges of plotting a coup and inciting riots over election denial. Due to repeated claims of election fraud, he has been stripped of his eligibility to run for office until 2030. However, he continues to express his intention to run in the next presidential election, stating, "I am the only person who can defeat President Lula next year."

In response, President Lula criticized, "We must not let insane people ruin the country," and added that he would run for re-election next year if his health permits.