A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to be placed under house arrest after he violated a previous judicial order prohibiting him from making any statements on social media.
The order comes as part of ongoing legal proceedings in which Bolsonaro is accused of plotting to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election.
According to court documents, Justice Alexandre de Moraes cited a repeated and deliberate failure to comply with judicial restrictions as the reason for the ruling. The judge noted that Bolsonaro breached the conditions of his restrictions again through content reposted by his supporters during nationwide protests on Sunday.
The 70-year-old former president has already been under strict conditions, including wearing an electronic ankle bracelet, staying at home during nights and weekends, and a total ban on using or interacting with social media platforms.
Bolsonaro faces charges related to attempts to block the inauguration of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva following his electoral defeat — charges that could carry a lengthy prison sentence. His trial is expected to conclude in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Bolsonaro supporters gathered in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro two days ago, demanding that Congress grant amnesty to the former president and others facing prosecution for their roles in the January 8, 2023, attacks on government buildings in the capital, Brasilia.
