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Bolsonaro faces potential jail time over defiant public remarks

Tuesday 22 July 2025 - 12:30

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro may face immediate imprisonment after allegedly violating a court order banning him from using social media. The warning was issued Monday by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who accused Bolsonaro of breaching restrictions imposed in the context of his ongoing trial for attempting to overturn the 2022 presidential election.

Bolsonaro, who served as president from 2019 to 2022, was ordered last week to wear an electronic ankle monitor and to refrain from making public statements on digital platforms. The Supreme Court claims he and his son Eduardo encouraged "hostile acts" from the United States toward Brazil, and attempted to obstruct justice.

Despite the ban, Bolsonaro gave a press conference on Monday where he denounced the measures as an act of "cowardice." Although he did not personally share the content online, his political allies and family members published videos and statements across platforms like X, Facebook, and Instagram, prompting the court's reaction.

Justice Moraes warned that Bolsonaro's speech was intended for online distribution, violating the conditions of his release. He demanded clarification from Bolsonaro's legal team within 24 hours and threatened arrest if non-compliance continues.

During the conference, Bolsonaro showed the electronic monitor on his left ankle, calling it the “ultimate humiliation.” “The law I follow is God’s law,” he declared. The Supreme Court upheld the restrictions in a 4–1 vote during an emergency session.

Meanwhile, the situation has strained diplomatic ties between Brazil and the United States. Former U.S. president Donald Trump came to Bolsonaro’s defense, calling the measures a “witch hunt,” and threatened Brazil with increased tariffs. Current Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned the move as “unacceptable blackmail.”

Bolsonaro, currently ineligible to run for office until 2030 due to spreading disinformation about Brazil's voting system, faces over 40 years in prison if convicted. He and seven former aides have been charged with attempting to retain power through unconstitutional means. Despite this, Bolsonaro has called for broad amnesty and hopes to run in the 2026 presidential election.