Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to explain why he spent two nights at the Hungarian Embassy, sparking a federal police investigation. The move came after a New York Times investigation revealed that Bolsonaro hid at the embassy days after his passport was confiscated due to a criminal investigation. Footage from the embassy’s security cameras suggested Bolsonaro was seeking political asylum from Hungary. Bolsonaro confirmed his stay at the embassy but refused to disclose the reason, stating that he has friends who are world leaders and are concerned for him. However, Justice Alexandre de Moraes has demanded an explanation within 48 hours.
Justice Moraes had previously authorized raids and arrests on Bolsonaro’s former aides and ministers on accusations of plotting a coup after he lost the 2022 election. The former president was ordered to surrender his passport and not leave the country during the police investigation. The federal police are now looking into whether Bolsonaro’s stay at the Hungarian Embassy violated these orders, potentially leading to his arrest if he is believed to be evading criminal charges. Legal analysts suggest that seeking asylum could be grounds for pretrial detention.
Supreme Court justices in Brazil wield significant power, and Justice Moraes has been proactive in investigating Bolsonaro and his allies for actions that jeopardize the country’s democracy. Two leftist members of Congress have requested Bolsonaro’s pretrial detention. The former president is facing various criminal investigations, including one in which the federal police recommended charges for falsifying his Covid-19 vaccination records. Prosecutors have yet to make a decision in this case. Hungarian diplomats in Brazil faced backlash for hosting Bolsonaro at the embassy, with the Brazilian Foreign Ministry summoning Hungary’s ambassador to explain the situation.
Hungary’s ambassador defended Bolsonaro’s stay at the embassy as a mere political discussion, similar to Bolsonaro’s lawyer’s explanation. However, Brazilian officials expressed concern over hosting a former president under criminal investigation for multiple nights, especially when he has a home in the same city. The unfolding legal drama surrounding Bolsonaro’s actions at the Hungarian Embassy has drawn attention to the tension between the former president and Brazil’s justice system. The investigation into Bolsonaro’s actions continues, with potential consequences looming as the situation unfolds.
