Brazil’s Ex-President Bolsonaro Arrested After Fears of Escape Plan

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was arrested early Saturday after authorities suspected he was preparing to flee the country to avoid beginning a 27-year prison sentence. The arrest took place at his home in Brasília and marked a dramatic turn in a long-running legal battle over his alleged role in trying to overturn the 2022 election results.

Bolsonaro, 70, has been under house arrest and was required to wear an ankle monitor due to concerns that he might attempt to escape. According to the Supreme Court, the device showed signs of being tampered with around midnight. Bolsonaro’s legal team denied any violation, but a judge viewed the alert as a strong sign he might be planning to run.

The arrest was ordered by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has overseen Bolsonaro’s coup-attempt case. The judge said the move was necessary to stop a possible escape during a protest planned later that day by Bolsonaro’s son. In a video posted online, his son Flávio urged supporters to gather outside the former president’s home, raising fears that the chaos could give Bolsonaro a chance to flee.

Authorities also expressed concern that Bolsonaro might attempt to reach the U.S. Embassy in Brasília, which is only a short drive from his residence. The judge noted that other allies involved in the coup case had already left the country to avoid jail, increasing the risk that Bolsonaro might do the same.

Bolsonaro’s lawyers argued that the arrest was unnecessary and claimed the alert from the ankle monitor could have been caused while he was participating in a quiet prayer vigil. They said the device appeared to be functioning normally afterward, and insisted that he had not attempted to escape.

Bolsonaro was convicted earlier this year for leading an effort to overturn Brazil’s democratic process after losing the 2022 presidential election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Prosecutors alleged he was involved in plans that included harming political opponents and undermining democratic institutions. He was also found guilty of leading an armed criminal group and attempting to dismantle the rule of law. Bolsonaro continues to deny the accusations.

The Supreme Court is expected to review the arrest order on Monday. If the five-judge panel upholds the decision, Bolsonaro will begin serving his sentence in prison instead of under house arrest. His supporters have reacted strongly online, calling the arrest unfair, while critics of the former president have welcomed the decision.

Bolsonaro, who served as Brazil’s president from 2019 to 2022, remains an influential political figure despite being barred from running in the 2026 election. Analysts say his arrest will significantly shape Brazil’s political landscape, especially with President Lula preparing for his re-election campaign next year.

As of Saturday morning, only a small group of supporters had gathered near the federal police headquarters, but more were expected throughout the day. Meanwhile, opponents of the former president were planning celebrations in several cities, highlighting the sharp divide that still exists in Brazilian politics.

The arrest marks one of the most significant moments in Brazil’s recent political history, as the country continues to deal with the aftermath of the deep divisions created during Bolsonaro’s presidency and the events that followed his 2022 election defeat.