Jair Bolsonaro faces strict restrictions amid coup trial

In Brazil, federal police conducted searches at former president Jair Bolsonaro's home and political headquarters. This operation was executed under the orders of the Supreme Federal Tribunal, which mandated precautionary measures that included the imposition of an electronic ankle monitor on Bolsonaro. The police are acting on allegations that the former president led an attempt to coup the results of the 2022 election, in which he was defeated by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro, who has consistently denied these allegations, described the measures as a 'supreme humiliation'. The court's action comes amid concerns over Bolsonaro potentially fleeing the country. The Supreme Court restricted him from using social media, contacting foreign officials, and approaching embassies or his son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, who resides in the United States and has close ties with Donald Trump. Bolsonaro could face significant prison time if found guilty of conspiring to overturn the election results, with potential sentences reaching over four decades. In his defense, Bolsonaro has claimed that he never considered leaving Brazil and asserts that the accusations against him are exaggerated. Support from Trump adds a political dimension to this situation, as he publicly criticized the legal proceedings against Bolsonaro, labeling them an 'unjust system'. The trial reflects ongoing tensions in Brazilian politics and the legal system's independence from executive influence, with Lula stating that the judiciary operates without presidential interference. The court's investigation into Bolsonaro is deepening amid rising political tensions both domestically and internationally.