Former federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro stated this Wednesday (14), in Washington, that he does not intend to return to Brazil after being sentenced to four years and two months in prison and once again defended the departure of minister Alexandre de Moraes from the STF (Supreme Federal Court).
"I'm not going to go to jail if I'm innocent," said Eduardo, who has lived in the United States since last year.
The statement was given to journalists during a gala ceremony celebrating Hispanic culture in the United States, which was attended by the president of Argentina, Javier Milei.
The dinner, whose cheapest ticket was US$3,000 (around R$15,000), brings together other figures from the American and Brazilian right, such as Bolsonaro blogger Allan dos Santos.
Last Thursday (8), Moraes ordered the execution of the sentence imposed on the former deputy for the crime of coercion, committed in the United States with the aim of intimidating the Brazilian Judiciary and preventing the analysis of the coup plot. The minister also ordered the cancellation of Eduardo's passports.
During the conversation with journalists, the former deputy stated that Moraes' departure from the Supreme Court would be necessary for a possible government of his brother, Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), who is contesting the second round of the presidential election against Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) on the 25th.
“First we will have to purge this cancer called Alexandre de Moraes from the Supreme Court,” he stated. "I also don't see Flávio Bolsonaro, president, being able to govern with Moraes in the Supreme Court."
Eduardo also celebrated what he classified as a rejection, by the PL, of an attempted agreement with members of the Supreme Court. "I liked that he already came crawling after an agreement and that the PL rejected the agreement", he said, in reference to Moraes.
The statement comes amid concern from STF ministers about the possibility of opening impeachment proceedings against members of the court after the election of a strong conservative bench in the Senate.
As Folha showed, magistrates believe that it will be necessary to seek dialogue with parliamentarians considered more moderate from the PL to try to avoid removals. The new composition of the Senate will have at least 49 parliamentarians in favor of impeaching ministers, with 54 votes needed to approve the dismissal.
Around Moraes, there is fear that he will not even be able to assume the presidency of the Supreme Court, scheduled for September 2027, given the pressure from Bolsonarist parliamentarians. Senator Rogério Marinho (PL-RN), coordinator of Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign, has already denied the existence of any political agreement with the STF to protect ministers like Moraes.
Amid fears among allies that there will be a lack of commitment from Bolsonaro supporters in the final stretch until the second round, Eduardo signaled confidence in his brother's victory, but acknowledged that the dispute has not yet been decided.
According to him, electoral polls "can provide guidance, but they are not everything." "Flávio is aware that he has nothing to gain. His campaign is moving again to get people energized on the networks, and that is very positive," he stated.
The former congressman also said he intends to meet Milei during the event in Washington. According to him, the conversation will serve to thank the Argentine president for his stance in relation to the Brazilians convicted of the January 8 attacks, in addition to discussing a possible rapprochement between the two countries if Flávio wins the election.
"It's obvious that the topic of the conversation is something reserved, but it also reinforces the comfort he has in talking to a person who has two convictions today in Brazil," said Eduardo, referring to himself.
For the former deputy, the political affinity between Milei and the Bolsonaro family could facilitate relations between Brazil and Argentina in his brother's eventual government. "We'll sit down with a friend to have a coffee and it will benefit both people," he said.
Eduardo denied having asked American President Donald Trump to declare support for Flávio's candidacy in the second round.
Asked about possible interference by the United States in the Brazilian election, the former congressman again accused the American government of having acted to influence the 2022 presidential race, citing resources from USAID, the US foreign aid agency dismantled by the Trump administration.
According to him, the current scenario would be different, among other reasons, due to the end of the agency and the absence of Moraes from the composition of the TSE (Superior Electoral Court).
