Eduardo Bolsonaro kissing up for US-intervention

Last March, federal deputy and son of Jair Bolsonaro, Eduardo Bolsonaro, took leave from his mandate and traveled to the United States to, according to him, devote himself full-time to convincing the Donald Trump administration to grant amnesty to Bolsonaro supporters involved in the January 8 attacks (who vandalized National Congress buildings in Brasília after Lula's election) and to obtain sanctions against Federal Supreme Court Minister Alexandre de Moraes, rapporteur of the coup d'état case in which former President Jair Bolsonaro was indicted and is awaiting trial.

There was extensive coverage in the Brazilian media and also a strong demonstration by the progressive camp on social media, mainly celebrating Eduardo's departure and saying that Jair's son had fled to avoid also being the target of lawsuits.

On his X profile, the congressman celebrated US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statement in the US Congress that he was considering sanctions against Alexandre de Moraes: "Now in the US: Secretary Marco Rubio says he is currently considering sanctions against Moraes under the Magnitsky Act (human rights violations)," he said on May 21. "The question was asked by Congressman Cory Lee Mills, who last week met with Congressmen Eduardo Bolsonaro and Filipe Barros. We will win!" he added.

New investigation against Eduardo
Immediately, the Brazilian Attorney General's Office asked the Federal Supreme Court to open an investigation into Eduardo Bolsonaro for his actions in the United States against Brazilian authorities. The Attorney General's Office also asked the Supreme Court to take the testimony of former President Jair Bolsonaro in order to clarify the facts involving his son, since he would benefit directly from Eduardo's actions.

According to the Attorney General's Office, since last year, the congressman has been "repeatedly and publicly stating that he is working to get the US government to impose sanctions against members of the Federal Supreme Court."

"Bolsonaro has 'terrorist practices'"

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also commented on the episode on June 3. At a press conference, he said that Brazil will defend Minister Alexandre de Moraes and the STF, both of whom are being targeted by the US government. The president also stated that Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro has "terrorist practices." He also said that Eduardo is in the US "trying to kiss up to Trump and Trump's advisor, asking for intervention in Brazilian politics."

The idea that the Brazilian Supreme Court is persecuting right-wing politicians has been a recurring narrative of Brazilian far-right figures in speeches and international conferences. It began during Bolsonaro's administration, when the court was able to block the president's outrageous measures, and intensified as Bolsonaro supporters came under investigation for their hate speeches, fake news and crimes. At the VI Transatlantic Summit - a conference held by the Political Network for Values organization - which took place last December in Madrid, pro-Bolsonaro Senator Eduardo Girão participated in a roundtable discussion in which he said that Brazil is currently experiencing a "dictatorship led by a juristocracy" and that the Federal Supreme Court acts in a partisan manner in opposition to Bolsonaro and in favor of Lula.

In a room packed with politicians and members of ultra-conservative organizations in the Madrid Senate, he declared that "the court is not only dismantling our democratic institutions, but also devastating countless families" and that "more than 2,000 political prisoners have been detained under arbitrary circumstances, denying them due process, individualization, and proportionality of sentences."

On that occasion, the senator also made an appeal, which he called a "cry for help" to his colleagues to exert international pressure so that "democracy would be restored" in Brazil. Finally, he mentioned that the country is in a "constant spiritual war."

Eduardo Bolsonaro's institute: organizer of CPAC
Eduardo Bolsonaro is someone we should pay attention to. He heads the Liberal Conservative Institute, which offers political training courses and organizes the Brazilian version of CPAC. The next edition will take place in August this year in Manaus and is announcing the presence of Javier Milei and Donald Trump among the speakers. Eduardo is also someone with wide circulation among the international far right. Steve Bannon declared at a lunch during Trump's election celebrations this year that he will be the next president of Brazil in the near future. He also maintains relations with Viktor Orbán, Javier Milei, etc.

In a recent interview with a conservative Brazilian magazine, Eduardo said he does not rule out the possibility of running for president of Brazil in 2026.

Jair Bolsonaro, ineligible until 2030, has been under pressure to decide who he will support in next year's election.

Next, scenes from the chapters to come.

Redaction: Ulli Jentsch