logo
US condemns house arrest of Brazil's ex-president Bolsonaro

US condemns house arrest of Brazil's ex-president Bolsonaro

The Suna day ago
WASHINGTON: The United States on Monday condemned a decision by Brazil's Supreme Court to put former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest ahead of his trial for an alleged coup plot.
'Justice Moraes, now a U.S.-sanctioned human rights abuser, continues to use Brazil's institutions to silence opposition and threaten democracy,' the department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs said in a post on X.
'Putting even more restrictions on Jair Bolsonaro's ability to defend himself in public is not a public service. Let Bolsonaro speak!' - Reuters
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Eduardo Bolsonaro: 'provocateur' inflaming US-Brazil spat
Eduardo Bolsonaro: 'provocateur' inflaming US-Brazil spat

New Straits Times

time2 hours ago

  • New Straits Times

Eduardo Bolsonaro: 'provocateur' inflaming US-Brazil spat

BRAZILIAN congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro is hailed by some as a slayer of tyrants in defence of his coup-accused father. For others, he is a "traitor" responsible for Washington's punitive tariffs on the largest economy in South America. The 41-year-old lawyer is the son of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, with whom he shares a circle of far-right acquaintances, a hatred of communism, a fondness for weapons and skepticism about climate change. For years, he has been the defender-in-chief of his father, who risks decades in prison if convicted of plotting to wrest back power after losing the 2022 election to leftist rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Citing political persecution, the younger Bolsonaro took an extended leave of absence in March from his post in Brazil's lower chamber and relocated to the United States, where he has been lobbying President Donald Trump and his entourage to act in defence of his father. Last week, Trump announced a massive 50 per cent tariff on many Brazilian exports to the United States, citing a "witch hunt" against his ally. Washington also slapped financial sanctions on the presiding judge in the coup case, Alexandre de Moraes of Brazil's Supreme Court – whom Eduardo Bolsonaro has repeatedly called a "tyrant" and more recently a "psychopath out of control" for ordering his father placed under house arrest. The younger Bolsonaro openly celebrated the sanctions as a "historic" blow against "judicial persecution" in a post on X, of which he is a prolific user. Many in the deeply divided country took to social media to label him a "hero," while thousands rallied in the streets Sunday thanking Trump for upping the pressure. The tariff announcement prompted Lula to label the younger Bolsonaro "a traitor to the nation," while Moraes lambasted acts of "cowardice and treachery." The Folha de S. Paulo daily, in an editorial, meanwhile called him an "enemy of Brazil" who "does everything to defend his own family, without caring about national interests." The tariffs have also raised alarm among Brazil's business class and even some politicians on the right of the spectrum, including Sao Paulo governor Tarcisio de Freitas, who has worried about the impact on his state, Brazil's richest and most populous. For his efforts, Eduardo Bolsonaro finds himself the target of an investigation, ordered by Moraes, into obstruction of justice in his father's trial. With his piercing gaze and athletic stature, Eduardo Bolsonaro entered politics in 2015 aged 30, vowing to emulate his controversial father, who calls him "zero three" for his birth order – the third of five siblings. He has three brothers also in politics: Flavio, a senator, and Carlo and Renan, city councilors. The younger Bolsonaro holds the record for the most votes ever received for a congressman in Brazil, over 1.8 million in 2018. That same year, he publicly expressed his open disdain for Brazilian institutions by declaring it would take just "a soldier and a corporal to shut down the Supreme Court." A former senior official of his father's government has described Eduardo as a "provocateur" who "says whatever he pleases, without necessarily mastering the subject." "The important thing for him is to attract attention, to make noise, even if it harms important relationships for Brazil," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity. Eduardo Bolsonaro's X feed features photos of himself with an array of American right-wing figures: Trump's sons, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, judge Jeanine Pirro, businessman Mike Lindell and actor Jon Voigt. He is also close to Steve Bannon, Trump's former strategist. Last November, the younger Bolsonaro proudly posted photos of himself at the election night party Trump hosted at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. Eduardo Bolsonaro has declared himself "ready" to seek Brazil's highest office if given the green light by his father, whose own political future seems uncertain. But it is a hypothesis deemed unlikely by political scientist Leandro Gabiati of consulting firm Dominium, who said Bolsonaro's US lobbying has earned him widespread "disapproval." Furthermore, "everything indicates that he will be arrested" if he returns to Brazil now, said Gabiati.

Mexico and Canada strategise against Trump tariffs amid USMCA tensions
Mexico and Canada strategise against Trump tariffs amid USMCA tensions

The Sun

time3 hours ago

  • The Sun

Mexico and Canada strategise against Trump tariffs amid USMCA tensions

MEXICO CITY: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum hosted Canadian officials to coordinate responses to US President Donald Trump's escalating trade tariffs, despite the existing USMCA free trade agreement. The talks focused on mitigating economic impacts while preparing for a future visit by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Trump recently raised tariffs on select Canadian goods to 35% and postponed a 30% levy on Mexican imports for 90 days. Both nations face broader US duties on steel, aluminum, and automotive exports. Mexican Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard stated, 'They (Canada) are paying a 35 percent tariff and Mexico is not; we are going to exchange experiences, they want to know how Mexico is achieving these results.' The meetings included Canada's Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne and Foreign Minister Anita Anand, with Sheinbaum noting on social media, 'we are strengthening the relationship between our countries.' Discussions also covered security and trade ahead of the USMCA's scheduled review in January 2026. Trump has criticised both nations for insufficient border controls against undocumented migration and fentanyl trafficking. - Reuters

NYC faces $64 million security fund cut amid rising threats
NYC faces $64 million security fund cut amid rising threats

The Sun

time3 hours ago

  • The Sun

NYC faces $64 million security fund cut amid rising threats

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration announced a $64 million reduction in terrorism prevention funding for New York City, according to a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant notice. The decision follows a recent deadly shooting in Manhattan, raising concerns over security priorities. FEMA stated the funding cut is based on 'an analysis of relative risk of terrorism.' New York City's allocation from the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) has declined annually since 2022, with this year's reduction marking a sharp 41% drop. Manhattan has witnessed two high-profile attacks in the past year, including a July incident where a gunman killed four people in an office building housing the NFL and financial firms. 'It makes absolutely no sense to cut NY's allocation given the rise in the threat environment,' a New York State Division of Homeland Security spokesperson said. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) defended the move, claiming NYC had unspent counter-terrorism funds from prior years. Reuters could not verify this assertion. Governor Kathy Hochul previously questioned the delay in funding announcements, citing escalating risks. FEMA's risk assessment factors include visitor counts, population density, and proximity to borders. NYC previously used UASI funds for the Domain Awareness System, a surveillance network of cameras and detection devices. - Reuters

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store