But Alexandre de Moraes, judge of the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF), ruled this request inadmissible, justifying among other things his decision by the risk of the ex-president “flighting” abroad to escape the justice of his country.
A risk of leakage considered too high
According to this powerful magistrate, hated by the Bolsonaro camp, the invitation to the inauguration of the American president does not “justify a revocation” of the ban on leaving the national territory. He also argued that Jair Bolsonaro publicly defended “the flight from the country and the request for asylum abroad” of individuals convicted for their involvement in the riots of January 8, 2023 in Brasilia.
That day, a week after Lula’s inauguration, thousands of Bolsonaristas invaded and ransacked the buildings of the presidential palace, the parliament and the Supreme Court. Alexandre de Moraes’ decision “weakens Brazil’s position on the world stage and sends a worrying message about the state of democracy and justice in our country,” Jair Bolsonaro’s team reacted on X.
It is “a new example of the continued use of lawfare (judicial activism) against Bolsonaro – the systematic use of justice to neutralize him as a political adversary in the courts, in order not to confront him at the ballot box,” she added. The former president’s defense appealed the decision, says the local press.
“Persecution”, responds Jair Bolsonaro
Defeated by Lula in the second round of the 2022 presidential election, Jair Bolsonaro was subsequently declared ineligible until 2030, for having disseminated unfounded information about the Brazilian electoral system. The prosecution must decide soon whether it will initiate proceedings against the former president for his alleged involvement in a supposed “coup d’état” project in order to remain in power after the 2022 election.
-Jair Bolsonaro has always flatly denied these accusations, crying “persecution”. In an interview published Thursday by the New York Times, before the publication of Judge Moraes’ decision, he did not hide his enthusiasm at the idea of going to the inauguration of Donald Trump, “the most important guy in the world “.
Other South American political figures will, however, make the trip. Ultraliberal Javier Milei will leave Buenos Aires shortly before midnight on Friday to attend the inauguration of Donald Trump, before going to the Davos Economic Forum, according to the program communicated Thursday by the Argentine presidency.
Also present will be Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, considered the “president-elect” of Venezuela by the administration of outgoing US President Joe Biden as well as by Donald Trump. The exiled opponent, who claims victory in the July presidential election against Nicolas Maduro, is due to go to Washington this weekend and “hopes to meet other members of the new Trump administration,” his team said in a press release.
