Ex-president Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil currently resides under home detention
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is currently under house arrest, following an order by the Supreme Court on August 4, 2025. The legal action stems from allegations that Bolsonaro was involved in a plot to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election.
The trial, known as "Operation Counter-coup," is ongoing, with a verdict expected by the end of 2025. Bolsonaro denies the charges, labelling the trial a political witch hunt.
The situation has led to strained US-Brazil diplomatic relations. The US government has criticised Brazil's judicial actions, calling the charges against Bolsonaro unjust and politically motivated. In response, former US President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Brazilian goods, along with sanctions on Brazilian justices.
The events of January 8, 2023, when Bolsonaro's supporters stormed government institutions in Brasília, are believed to have provided evidence supporting the coup plot allegations.
Since mid-July, Bolsonaro has been under strict restrictions, including a nighttime curfew, a ban on contact with diplomats, and the electronic ankle bracelet. He is required to serve his house arrest at his residence, where he may only be visited by lawyers and close relatives.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes accused Bolsonaro of violating a restraining order that prohibited him from using social media for political purposes. The former president is alleged to have continued to influence political debate in the country through social networks, and to have spread content that incited attacks on the court and called for foreign intervention.
Bolsonaro's lawyers have announced they will file an appeal against the house arrest order, arguing that their client has strictly adhered to the court's guidelines. However, videos have been circulating that show Bolsonaro wearing his ankle bracelet at a public event in the Brazilian Congress, raising questions about his compliance with the restrictions.
Flávio Bolsonaro, the former president's son, claimed that Brazil is now "officially in a dictatorship" due to the house arrest order of his father. The US State Department has criticised the house arrest order, stating that Judge Moraes was abusing Brazilian institutions to suppress the opposition and endanger democracy. The US government has vowed to hold accountable anyone supporting sanctioned actions related to Bolsonaro's legal troubles.
Bolsonaro, who earned the nickname "Tropical Trump" during his earlier tenure for his similarities to former US President Donald Trump, insists that he has not been involved in any wrongdoing in this matter.
The protests continue, with Bolsonaro supporters demonstrating in several cities across Brazil, calling for his pardon on Sunday. The future of Brazil's politics remains uncertain as the trial unfolds, with the verdict expected by the end of the year.
- The ongoing trial, "Operation Counter-coup," involving Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently under house arrest, revolves around allegations of a plot to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election and involves politics, war-and-conflicts, and crime-and-justice.
- The strained relations between the US and Brazil, due to the house arrest of Bolsonaro, have escalated with the US government's criticism of Brazil's judicial actions and the imposition of tariffs and sanctions by former US President Donald Trump on Brazilian goods, relating to policy-and-legislation and general-news.
- The future of Brazil's politics, in light of the verdict expected by the end of 2025, remains uncertain, with protests continuing in support of President Bolsonaro, adding to the ongoing debate in politics and the general-news landscape.
