Videos from the security system of the Hungarian embassy in Brasília show that former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) remained at the diplomatic mission for two days after a Federal Police operation that seized his passport. The fact was revealed by the New York Times. The images disclosed show Bolsonaro in front of the diplomatic mission on 12 February, four days after being ordered to give his passport to police authorities, a standard procedure that aims to prevent people under investigation from escaping to another country.
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Coup Investigation
The passport was handed over as a development of an inquiry investigating a coup plot that would have been led by the former president to keep him in power despite his electoral defeat to Lula (PT).
He reportedly remained in the building from 12 to 14 February. If he remained within the diplomatic mission, Bolsonaro could not, in theory, be subject to an arrest order, for example, as it is a building protected by diplomatic conventions.
Explanations
After learning what happened, Minister Alexandre de Moraes, from the STF, gave 48 hours to former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) to explain why he stayed for two days at the Hungarian embassy in Brasília.
On Monday (25/03), former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) said in a speech in São Paulo that he visits embassies across the country, talks to ambassadors, and maintains relations with heads of state. In a statement, the former president’s defense declared that he stayed at the embassy just to maintain contact with authorities from the friendly country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Hungarian ambassador, Miklós Halmai, for explanations, in a sign of the Brazilian government’s annoyance with the situation. The gesture of hosting Bolsonaro, according to Executive assistants, has been read as interference by the Government of Hungary.
Analysis:
Legal authorities saw the act as a way to escape Brazilian authorities in case of a prison order against Jair Bolsonaro. This understanding was later reinforced by the fact that, while at the Hungarian embassy, Bolsonaro called for a protest in his support, seen as a movement to show popular strength and put pressure against any arrest attempt.
