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The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Brazil police raid home of Bolsonaro, accused of plotting coup
Brazilian police raided Jair Bolsonaro's home on Friday (July 18,2025) as a judge imposed further restrictions on the far-right former leader while he stands trial on coup charges that have vexed U.S. president and ally Donald Trump. His son Eduardo Bolsonaro, a congressman who recently moved to the United States to lobby for his father, wrote on X that federal police carried out a "raid on my father's home this morning." He lashed out at Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes, a Bolsonaro adversary who on Friday ordered the ex-president to wear an electronic ankle bracelet, not leave his home at night, or use social media. Mr. Moraes, one of the judges in Bolsonaro's trial for allegedly seeking to nullify leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's 2022 election victory, said the measures were necessary given the "hostile acts" against Brazil by the accused and his son. This came after Mr. Trump announced a 50% tariff on the South American powerhouse for what he said was a "witch hunt" against his ally Bolsonaro. Mr. Moraes, said Eduardo Bolsonaro, "has long abandoned any semblance of impartiality and now operates as a political gangster in robes, using the Supreme Court as his personal weapon." The judge was "trying to criminalize President Trump and the US government. Powerless against them, he chose to take my father hostage," he added in a letter he signed as a "Brazilian congressman in exile." U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Friday Washington was revoking a U.S. visa for Moraes for his "political witch hunt against Jair Bolsonaro." 'Supreme humiliation' Accusing him of creating a "persecution and censorship complex," Rubio also announced visa restrictions on other judges who side with Mr. Moraes, as well as their immediate family members. Bolsonaro, 70, described the Moraes order Friday as a "supreme humiliation" and said the prohibitions were "suffocating." It also prohibited him from approaching foreign embassies, and confined him to his home on weekdays between 7:00 pm and 6:00 am, and all day on weekends or public holidays. "I never thought about leaving Brazil, I never thought about going to an embassy," Bolsonaro insisted on emerging from the justice secretariat offices in Brasilia. He had been taken there after the raid, during which police seized cash. His defense team in a statement expressed "surprise and indignation" at the new measures. The former army captain denies he was involved in an attempt to wrest power back from Lula as part of an alleged coup plot that prosecutors say failed only for a lack of military backing. After the plot fizzled, rioting supporters known as "Bolsonaristas" raided government buildings in early 2023 as they urged the military to oust Lula. Bolsonaro was abroad at the time. The case against Bolsonaro carries echoes of Trump's failed prosecution over the January 6, 2021 attacks by his supporters on the U.S. Capitol to try and reverse his election loss to Joe Biden. Both men have claimed to be victims of political persecution, and Mr. Trump has stepped in in defense of his ally, to the anger of Lula who has labeled the tariff threat "unacceptable blackmail." Washington also announced an investigation into "unfair trading practices" by Brazil, a move that could provide a legal basis for imposing tariffs on South America's largest economy. On Tuesday, prosecutors asked the trial judges of the Supreme Court to find Bolsonaro guilty of "armed criminal association" and planning to "violently overthrow the democratic order." The defense must still present its closing arguments, after which a five-member panel of judges including Moraes will decide the ex-president's fate. Bolsonaro and seven co-accused risk up to 40 years in prison. He has repeatedly stated his desire to be a candidate in presidential elections next year, but has been ruled ineligible to hold office by a court that found him guilty of spreading misinformation about Brazil's electoral system. Mr. Lula, for his part, said on Friday he intends to seek another term. "You can be sure that I will be a candidate again... I will not hand this country over to that bunch of lunatics who almost destroyed it," the 79-year-old said at a public event in the state of Ceara. Mr. Moraes has repeatedly clashed with Bolsonaro and other rightwing figures he has accused of spreading fake news. Last year, the judge suspended tech titan Elon Musk's X network in Brazil for 40 days for failing to tackle the spread of disinformation shared mainly by Bolsonaro backers
LeMonde
5 days ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
Brazil police raid home of Bolsonaro, accused of plotting coup
Brazilian police raided Jair Bolsonaro's home Friday, July 18, as a judge imposed further restrictions on the far-right former leader while he stands trial on coup charges that have vexed US President and ally Donald Trump. His son Eduardo Bolsonaro, a congressman who recently moved to the United States to lobby for his father, wrote on X that federal police carried out a "raid on my father's home this morning." He lashed out at Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes, a Bolsonaro adversary who on Friday ordered the ex-president to wear an electronic ankle bracelet, not leave his home at night, or use social media. Moraes, one of the judges in Bolsonaro's trial for allegedly seeking to nullify leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's 2022 election victory, said the measures were necessary given the "hostile acts" against Brazil by the accused and his son. This came after Trump announced a 50% tariff on the South American powerhouse for what he said was a "witch hunt" against his ally Bolsonaro. Moraes, said Eduardo Bolsonaro, "has long abandoned any semblance of impartiality and now operates as a political gangster in robes, using the Supreme Court as his personal weapon." The judge was "trying to criminalize President Trump and the US government. Powerless against them, he chose to take my father hostage," he added in a letter he signed as a "Brazilian congressman in exile." 'Supreme humiliation' US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Friday that Washington was revoking a US visa for Moraes for his "political witch hunt against Jair Bolsonaro." Accusing him of creating a "persecution and censorship complex," Rubio also announced visa restrictions on other judges who side with Moraes, as well as their immediate family members. Bolsonaro, 70, described the Moraes order Friday as a "supreme humiliation" and said the prohibitions were "suffocating." It also prohibited him from approaching foreign embassies, and confined him to his home on weekdays between 7:00 pm and 6:00 am, and all day on weekends or public holidays. "I never thought about leaving Brazil, I never thought about going to an embassy," Bolsonaro insisted on emerging from the justice secretariat offices in Brasilia. He had been taken there after the raid, during which police seized cash. His defense team in a statement expressed "surprise and indignation" at the new measures. The former army captain denies he was involved in an attempt to wrest power back from Lula as part of an alleged coup plot that prosecutors say failed only for a lack of military backing. After the plot fizzled, rioting supporters known as "Bolsonaristas" raided government buildings in early 2023 as they urged the military to oust Lula. Bolsonaro was abroad at the time. The case against Bolsonaro carries echoes of Trump's failed prosecution over the January 6, 2021 attacks by his supporters on the US Capitol to try and reverse his election loss to Joe Biden. Both men have claimed to be victims of political persecution, and Trump has stepped in in defense of his ally, to the anger of Lula who has labeled the tariff threat "unacceptable blackmail." Washington also announced an investigation into "unfair trading practices" by Brazil, a move that could provide a legal basis for imposing tariffs on South America's largest economy. On Tuesday, prosecutors asked the trial judges of the Supreme Court to find Bolsonaro guilty of "armed criminal association" and planning to "violently overthrow the democratic order." The defense must still present its closing arguments, after which a five-member panel of judges, including Moraes, will decide the ex-president's fate. Bolsonaro and seven co-accused risk up to 40 years in prison.
Courier-Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Courier-Mail
Brazil police raid home of Bolsonaro, accused of plotting coup
Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. Brazilian police on Friday raided far-right ex-leader Jair Bolsonaro's home, his son said, after a judge curtailed his freedom while he stands trial on coup charges that have vexed US President Donald Trump. Son Eduardo Bolsonaro, a congressman who recently moved to the United States to lobby for his father, wrote on X that federal police carried out a "raid on my father's home this morning." And he lashed out at Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes, a Bolsonaro adversary who on Friday ordered the ex-president to wear an electronic ankle bracelet and not leave his home at night. Moraes, one of the judges in Bolsonaro's trial for allegedly seeking to nullify leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva 2022 election victory, said the measures were necessary given the accused and his son's "hostile acts" against Brazil. This came after Trump announced a 50 percent tariff on the South American powerhouse for what he said was a "witch hunt" against his ally Bolsonaro. Moraes, said Eduardo Bolsonaro, "has long abandoned any semblance of impartiality and now operates as a political gangster in robes, using the Supreme Court as his personal weapon." The judge was "trying to criminalize President Trump and the US government. Powerless against them, he chose to take my father hostage," he added in a letter he signed as a "Brazilian congressman in exile." - 'Supreme humiliation' - Bolsonaro described Morae's order Friday as a "supreme humiliation." It also prohibited him from approaching foreign embassies or leaving his home between 7:00 pm and 6:00 am, on weekends or public holidays. "I never thought about leaving Brazil, I never thought about going to an embassy, Bolsonaro insisted on emerging from the justice secretariat offices in Brasilia. The former army captain denies he was involved in an attempt to wrest power back from Lula as part of an alleged coup plot that prosecutors say failed only for a lack of military backing. After the plot fizzled, rioting supporters known as "Bolsonaristas" raided government buildings in 2023 as they urged the military to oust Lula. Bolsonaro was abroad at the time. The case against Bolsonaro carries echoes of Trump's failed prosecution over the January 6, 2021 attacks by his supporters on the US Capitol to try and reverse his election loss. Both men have claimed to be victims of political persecution, and Trump has stepped in in defense of his ally, to the anger of Lula who has labeled the tariff threat "unacceptable blackmail." Washington also announced an investigation into "unfair trading practices" by Brazil, a move that could provide a legal basis for imposing tariffs on South America's largest economy. On Tuesday, prosecutors asked the trial judges of the Supreme Court to find Bolsonaro guilty of "armed criminal association" and planning to "violently overthrow the democratic order." The defense must still present its closing arguments, after which a five-member panel of judges including Moraes will decide the ex-president's fate. Bolsonaro and seven co-accused risk up to 40 years in prison. He has repeatedly stated his desire to be a candidate in presidential elections next year, but has been ruled ineligible to hold office by a court that found him guilty of spreading misinformation about Brazil's electoral system. Moraes has repeatedly clashed with Bolsonaro and other rightwing figures he has accused of spreading fake news. Last year, Moraes shut tech titan Elon Musk's X network in Brazil for 40 days for failing to tackle the spread of disinformation shared mainly by Bolsonaro backers. jss/mlr/dw Originally published as Brazil police raid home of Bolsonaro, accused of plotting coup
Hindustan Times
10-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Brazil, Trump up the ante in row over Bolsonaro coup trial
Brazil and the United States escalated their row Wednesday over President Donald Trump's support for coup-accused ex-leader Jair Bolsonaro, with the American president slapping a 50 percent tariff on one of its main steel suppliers. Trump slapped a 50% on one of its main steel suppliers. Leftist Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva threatened to reciprocate. Leftist Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva threatened to reciprocate. Trump has strongly criticized the prosecution of right-wing ally Bolsonaro, who is on trial for allegedly plotting to cling on to power after losing 2022 elections to Lula. Brasilia on Wednesday summoned Washington's top envoy to the country to explain an embassy statement describing Bolsonaro as a victim of "political persecution" -- echoing Trump's claims of a "witch hunt" against the 70-year-old Brazilian firebrand. Trump then announced he would slap a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian imports starting August 1, citing "Brazil's insidious attacks on Free Elections" and warning of escalation if the country retaliates. In a letter addressed to Lula, Trump criticized the treatment of Bolsonaro as an "international disgrace" and said the trial "should not be taking place." He added Washington would launch an investigation into Brazil's trade practices. While Trump has been issuing letters to trading partners -- focusing on those his country runs a deficit with -- Brazil had until now not been among those threatened with higher duties come August 1. The South American powerhouse is the second-largest exporter of steel to the United States after Canada, shipping four million tons of the metal in 2024. The new 50 percent tariff was independent of sector-specific levies, with the US recently doubling duties on steel and aluminum imports to 50 percent. Lula wrote on X that "any unilateral tariff increases will be addressed in light of the Brazilian Law of Economic Reciprocity." Trade between the two countries reached $41.7 billion between January and June, with $20 billion for exports from Brazil and $21.7 billion for US products, according to Brazilian government data. 'LEAVE BOLSONARO ALONE' On Monday, Trump angered Lula by urging Brazilian authorities to "LEAVE BOLSONARO ALONE," in a post on social media. "They have done nothing but come after him, day after day, night after night, month after month, year after year!" the US president wrote. Lula, who narrowly beat Bolsonaro in a divisive election in 2022, hit back at Trump's "interference," insisting that "no one is above the law." Bolsonaro denies he was involved in an attempt to wrest power back from Lula as part of an alleged coup plot that prosecutors say failed only for a lack of military backing. After the plot fizzled, rioting supporters known as "Bolsonaristas" raided government buildings in 2023 as they urged the military to oust Lula. Bolsonaro was abroad at the time. The case against Bolsonaro carries echoes of Trump's prosecution over the January 6, 2021 attacks by his supporters on the US Capitol to try and reverse his election loss. Trump pleaded not guilty, and the case was abandoned when he was reelected president. The cases have drawn the Trump and Bolsonaro families together, with the Brazilian ex-leader's sons lobbying for US sanctions against one of the Supreme Court judges sitting on the ex-president's trial. In his post Monday, Trump suggested Bolsonaro was the favorite in presidential elections next year, despite him being banned from running for spreading disinformation about Brazil's voting system. Bolsonaro thanked Trump for his defense of "peace, justice and liberty" in a social media post. On Wednesday, the US embassy in Brasilia issued a statement to "reinforce" Trump's support for the embattled former army captain, who risks a 40-year prison sentence. "Jair Bolsonaro and his family have been strong partners of the United States," read the note. "The political persecution against him, his family, and his followers is shameful and disrespects Brazil's democratic traditions." Members of the BRICS grouping, meeting in Brazil under host Lula this week, criticized Trump's imposition of import tariffs and his bombing of Iran. This drew the US president's ire and a threat of 10 percent additional tariffs on each BRICS-aligned country. Lula insisted BRICS members were sovereign and did not want an 'emperor.'
France 24
09-07-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Brazil summons US envoy over criticism of Bolsonaro trial
The foreign ministry in Brasilia told AFP that envoy Gabriel Escobar will be called to explain an embassy statement describing Bolsonaro as a victim of "political persecution" -- echoing Trump's claims of a "witch hunt" against the 70-year-old Brazilian firebrand. Trump on Monday urged Brazilian authorities to "LEAVE BOLSONARO ALONE," in a post on social media. "They have done nothing but come after him, day after day, night after night, month after month, year after year!" the US president wrote. Leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who narrowly beat Bolsonaro in a divisive election in 2022, has hit back at Trump's "interference," insisting that "no one is above the law." Bolsonaro denies he was involved in an attempt to wrest power back from Lula in an alleged coup plot prosecutors say failed only for a lack of military backing. After the plot fizzled, rioting supporters known as "Bolsonaristas" raided government buildings in 2023 as they urged the military to oust Lula. Bolsonaro was abroad at the time. No 'emperor' The case against Bolsonaro carries echoes of Trump's prosecution over the January 6, 2021 attacks by his supporters, who overran the US Congress to try and reverse his election loss. Trump pleaded not guilty, and the case was abandoned when he was reelected president. The cases have drawn the Trump and Bolsonaro families together, with the Brazilian ex-leader's sons lobbying for US sanctions against a Supreme Court judge sitting on the ex-president's trial. In his post Monday, Trump suggested Bolsonaro was the favorite in presidential elections next year, despite being banned from running for spreading disinformation about Brazil's voting system. Bolsonaro senior thanked Trump for his defense of "peace, justice and liberty" in a social media post. On Wednesday, the US embassy in Brasilia issued a statement to "reinforce" Trump's support for Bolsonaro. "Jair Bolsonaro and his family have been strong partners of the United States," read the note. "The political persecution against him, his family, and his followers is shameful and disrespects Brazil's democratic traditions." The showdown between the two countries extended to the economic sphere this week, when members of the BRICS grouping, meeting in Brazil under host Lula, criticized Trump's imposition of import tariffs and his bombing of Iran. This drew the US president's ire and a threat of 10 percent additional tariffs on each BRICS-aligned country. © 2025 AFP
