Bolsonaro set to be arrested next week, says columnist

In behind-the-scenes discussions away from the public agenda, Justice Alexandre de Moraes of the Federal Supreme Court has been discussing sensitive details about the arrest of former President Jair Bolsonaro, set to take place at some point next week, as revealed by journalist Lauro Jardim of O Globo newspaper. According to the columnist, one of these conversations took place on Monday night (11/17), in a private meeting with Army commander, General Tomás Paiva, also attended by Defense Minister José Múcio Monteiro. Paiva avoided expressing an opinion on the type of prison regime Moraes should determine for Bolsonaro, something that, according to institutional rules, is not within the military’s scope. However, the commander suggested alternatives in military facilities across the country, should Moraes opt for a closed regime sentence. These suggestions were presented as logistical and security options. Moraes, according to the report, neither signaled agreement nor rejection of the commander’s proposal. The minister maintains absolute secrecy about the details of the decision and the exact timing of the arrest order execution, says Jardim. Bolsonaro’s fate, however, will be decided by Moraes when the Supreme Court determines the final judgment of the case, that is, when the defense’s resources are exhausted, which is expected to happen soon. The former president is currently under house arrest. Bolsonaro was considered by the Supreme Court as the leader of a criminal organization, together with military personnel, police officers, and allies, that acted to prevent the power transition after the 2022 elections, won by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison. The Supreme Court ministers found the former president guilty of five crimes: armed criminal organization, attempted violent abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law, coup d’état, qualified damage by violence and serious threat and deterioration of a listed heritage.