By Gloria Nosa
Brazil’s political turmoil deepened this week as a federal court ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to wear an electronic ankle monitor, citing him as a potential flight risk amid ongoing criminal investigations. The dramatic decision came shortly after federal police raided Bolsonaro’s home in Brasília in connection with a probe into alleged efforts to falsify COVID-19 vaccination records.
The operation, part of a wider investigation dubbed Operação Venire, involves several of Bolsonaro’s former aides and security personnel. Authorities believe that Bolsonaro and members of his inner circle may have tampered with official records to circumvent international travel restrictions during the pandemic.
According to reports from Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court, the order to fit Bolsonaro with an ankle monitor was prompted by concerns that the former president could attempt to evade justice by fleeing the country. The court also confiscated Bolsonaro’s passport earlier this year and has now reinforced those restrictions with the monitoring device, ensuring his movements can be tracked at all times.
In a statement, the federal police confirmed the raid was conducted to retrieve digital evidence, including phones and computers, as part of the investigation into falsified health records. Bolsonaro has consistently denied any wrongdoing, calling the accusations politically motivated and part of a broader campaign to silence conservative voices in Brazil.
Speaking to supporters after the raid, Bolsonaro said, “They want to make me a criminal without evidence. This is not justice; it’s persecution. I’ll continue to stand strong and defend our values.”
The court’s decision to impose an ankle monitor has sparked intense reactions across Brazil’s political spectrum. Supporters of Bolsonaro decry the move as a targeted attempt to damage his reputation and derail his future political ambitions. Meanwhile, critics argue that the legal system is finally holding him accountable for years of alleged misconduct.
Legal analysts say the monitoring order is an extraordinary measure for a former president, underscoring the seriousness of the charges and the court’s resolve to prevent obstruction of justice.
As investigations continue, Bolsonaro now faces a mounting list of legal troubles, including probes related to his role in the January 8, 2023, attack on government institutions by supporters contesting his election loss, and his handling of pandemic policies while in office.
Whether the ankle monitor is a prelude to formal charges or merely a precautionary measure remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the political future of one of Brazil’s most controversial figures is increasingly uncertain.
