Brazil's Supreme Court caught off guard by order to arrest Bolsonaro, sources say
Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro take part in a motorcade to protest, after Brazil's Supreme Court issued a house arrest order for him, in Brasilia, Brazil, August 4, 2025. REUTERS/Adriano Machado TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
SAO PAULO - Brazil's Supreme Court was caught off-guard by Justice Alexandre de Moraes' decision late on Monday to place former President Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest, two sources at the court told Reuters on Tuesday.
The order underscores Moraes' readiness to act on his own despite both polarization among Brazilians on the issue and rising tensions with the White House. It came just days ahead of the introduction of 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods entering the United States.
U.S. President Donald Trump imposed the levies as a reaction to what he has characterized as a "witch hunt" led by Moraes against Bolsonaro, who is standing trial under charges of plotting a coup to overturn his 2022 electoral defeat. Bolsonaro has denied wrongdoing and described Moraes as a "dictator."
Moraes' ruling has sparked concern within the Brazilian government that Trump could retaliate by inflicting further damage to Brazil's economy, two sources close to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's inner circle told Reuters.
But Brazilian officials are not planning to push back against Moraes. The two court sources, one of whom is a justice, told Reuters that the other Supreme Court justices were supportive of Moraes, while those close to Lula said the president has neither the willingness nor the ability to influence the Supreme Court.
"It doesn't change our approach in the slightest," said the justice, who asked not to be named to discuss the matter candidly.
The Lula administration is instead planning policies to support those industries likely to be hardest hit by Trump's tariffs and to keep diplomatic channels open with Washington, said the political sources.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Finding hidden vapes: Inside ICA's mission to uncover contraband at land checkpoints
Singapore Delays on East-West MRT Line between Boon Lay and Buona Vista due to track point fault
Singapore Sorting recyclables by material could boost low domestic recycling rate: Observers
Asia Trump's sharp India criticism on tariffs, Russia oil corner Modi as rift deepens
Singapore More train rides taken in first half-year, but overall public transport use stays below 2019 levels
Singapore BlueSG needs time to develop software, refresh fleet, say ex-insiders after winding-down news
Asia Cambodia-Thailand border clash a setback for Asean: Vivian Balakrishnan
Singapore Doctor hounded ex-girlfriend, threatened to share her intimate photos, abducted her off street
But the Moraes move could create obstacles for the Brazilian negotiators, said Fabio Medina Osorio, Brazil's former attorney general.
"This decision can certainly make things difficult," he said.
A POLARIZED COUNTRY
The Supreme Court is expected to hand down a verdict within weeks on the charges that Bolsonaro and his allies plotted to overthrow democracy. It is widely expected to convict the former president.
Moraes' house arrest order cited a failure to comply with restraining orders he had imposed on Bolsonaro for allegedly courting Trump's interference in the case.
While domestically Moraes has received praise by some for defending Brazil's judicial independence, others have accused him of overreach.
The latest order drew mixed reactions, according to a Quaest poll based on social media posts, with 53% in favor and 47% against the arrest.
Newspapers that had written scathing editorials about the alliance between Bolsonaro and Trump also questioned Moraes' decisions.
"Moraes was wrong to order the arrest of the former president for communicating with supporters in a rally organized by the right," an editorial by Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo said. "Brazil must acknowledge that Jair Bolsonaro has broad freedom to defend himself in court and to express himself wherever he chooses, including on social media."
Former Supreme Court justices, too, offered differing views regarding the decision.
"Alexandre de Moraes, in his ruling, not only upholds the country's sovereignty and independence but also the autonomy of Brazil's judiciary," said Carlos Ayres Britto, who left the Supreme Court bench in 2012.
But former Justice Marco Aurelio Mello disagreed. "My perspective would be different given the constitutional principle of presumed innocence," he said. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Times
an hour ago
- Business Times
Trump may look like he's winning the trade war, but hurdles remain
[WASHINGTON] At a glance, US President Donald Trump appears to be winning the trade war he unleashed after returning to the White House in January, bending major trading partners to his will, imposing double-digit tariff rates on nearly all imports, narrowing the trade deficit, and raking in tens of billions of US dollars a month in much-needed cash for federal government coffers. Significant hurdles remain, however, including whether US trading partners will make good on investment and goods-purchase commitments, how much tariffs will drive up inflation or stymie demand and growth, and whether the courts allow many of his ad-hoc levies to stand. On inauguration day, the effective US tariff rate was about 2.5 per cent. It has since jumped to somewhere between 17 per cent and 19 per cent, according to a range of estimates. The Atlantic Council estimates it will edge closer to 20 per cent, the highest in a century, with higher duties taking effect on Thursday (Aug 7). Trading partners have largely refrained from retaliatory tariffs, sparing the global economy from a more painful tit-for-tat trade war. Data on Tuesday showed a 16 per cent narrowing of the US trade deficit in June, while the US trade gap with China shrank to its smallest in more than 21 years. American consumers have shown themselves to be more resilient than expected, but some recent data indicate the tariffs are already affecting jobs, growth and inflation. 'The question is, what does winning mean?' said Josh Lipsky, who heads economic studies at the Atlantic Council. 'He's raising tariffs on the rest of the world and avoiding a retaliatory trade war far easier than even he anticipated, but the bigger question is what effect does that have on the US economy.' BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Michael Strain, head of economic policy studies at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, said Trump's geopolitical victories could prove hollow. 'In a geopolitical sense, Trump's obviously getting tonnes of concessions from other countries, but in an economic sense, he's not winning the trade war,' he said. 'What we're seeing is that he is more willing to inflict economic harm on Americans than other countries are willing to inflict on their nations. And I think of that as losing.' Kelly Ann Shaw, a White House trade adviser during Trump's first term who is now a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, said a still-strong economy and near-record-high stock prices 'support a more aggressive tariff strategy.' But Trump's tariffs, tax cuts, deregulation and policies to boost energy production would take time to play out. 'I think history will judge these policies, but he is the first president in my lifetime to make major changes to the global trading system,' she added. Deals so far Trump has concluded eight framework agreements with the European Union, Japan, Britain, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Pakistan and the Philippines that impose tariffs on their goods ranging from 10 per cent to 20 per cent. That's well short of the '90 deals in 90 days' administration officials had touted in April, but they account for some 40 per cent of US trade flows. Adding in China, currently saddled with a 30 per cent levy on its goods but likely to win another reprieve from even higher tariffs before an August 12 deadline, would raise that to nearly 54 per cent. Deals aside, many of Trump's tariff actions have been mercurial. On Wednesday he ratcheted up pressure on India, doubling new tariffs on goods from there to 50 per cent from 25 per cent because of its imports of oil from Russia. The same rate is in store for goods from Brazil, after Trump complained about its prosecution of former leader Jair Bolsonaro, a Trump ally. And Switzerland, which Trump had previously praised, is facing 39 per cent tariffs after a conversation between its leader and Trump derailed a deal. Ryan Majerus, a trade lawyer who worked in both the first Trump administration and the Biden government, said what's been announced so far fails to address 'longstanding, politically entrenched trade issues' that have bothered US policymakers for decades, and getting there would likely take 'months, if not years.' He also noted they lack specific enforcement mechanisms for the big investments announced, including US$550 billion for Japan and US$600 billion for the EU. Promises and risks Critics lit into European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after she agreed to a 15 per cent tariff during a surprise meeting with Trump during his trip to Scotland last month, while gaining little in return. The deal frustrated winemakers and farmers, who had sought a zero-for-zero tariff. Francois-Xavier Huard, head of France's FNIL national dairy sector federation, said 15 per cent was better than the threatened 30 per cent, but would still cost dairy farmers millions of euros. European experts say von der Leyen's move did avert higher tariffs, calmed tensions with Trump, averting potentially higher duties on semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and cars, while making largely symbolic pledges to buy US$750 billion of US strategic goods and invest over US$600 billion. Meeting those pledges will fall to individual EU members and companies, and cannot be mandated by Brussels, trade experts and analysts note. US officials insist Trump can re-impose higher tariffs if he believes the EU, Japan or others are not honouring their commitments. But it remains unclear how that would be policed. And history offers a caution. China, with its state-run economy, never met its modest purchase agreements under Trump's Phase one US-China trade deal. Holding it to account proved difficult for the subsequent Biden administration. 'All of it is untested. The EU, Japan and South Korea are going to have to figure out how to operationalise this,' Shaw said. 'It's not just government purchases. It's getting the private sector motivated to either make investments or back loans, or to purchase certain commodities.' And lastly, the main premise for the tariffs Trump has imposed unilaterally faces legal challenges. His legal team met with stiff questioning during appellate court oral arguments over his novel use of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, historically used for sanctioning enemies or freezing their assets, to justify his tariffs. A ruling could come any time and regardless of the outcome seems destined to be settled ultimately by the Supreme Court. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Trump may look like he's winning the trade war, but hurdles remain
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Mr Trump's tariffs, tax cuts, deregulation and policies to boost energy production would take time to play out. WASHINGTON - At a glance, US President Donald Trump appears to be winning the trade war he unleashed after returning to the White House in January, bending major trading partners to his will, imposing double-digit tariff rates on nearly all imports, narrowing the trade deficit, and raking in tens of billions of dollars a month in much-needed cash for federal government coffers. Significant hurdles remain, however, including whether US trading partners will make good on investment and goods-purchase commitments, how much tariffs will drive up inflation or stymie demand and growth, and whether the courts allow many of his ad-hoc levies to stand. On inauguration day, the effective US tariff rate was about 2.5 per cent. It has since jumped to somewhere between 17 per cent and 19 per cent, according to a range of estimates. The Atlantic Council estimates it will edge closer to 20 per cent, the highest in a century, with higher duties taking effect on Aug 7. Trading partners have largely refrained from retaliatory tariffs, sparing the global economy from a more painful tit-for-tat trade war. Data on Aug 5 showed a 16 per cent narrowing of the US trade deficit in June, while the US trade gap with China shrank to its smallest in more than 21 years. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Liquor licences for F&B, nightlife venues extended to 4am in Boat Quay, Clarke Quay Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds Singapore Wastewater overflow in Bedok and Chai Chee due to choked sewer at BTO worksite: PUB Singapore Fine for man who damaged PAP campaign materials on GE2025 Polling Day Singapore Jail for driver who drove over leg of special needs woman in accident on church driveway Singapore Teen's love of dance powers her through cancer to perform at NDP 2025 Singapore Ex-Hyflux director fined over firm's failure to disclose Tuaspring info Business S'pore firm looks to buy SMEs lacking successors, launches CEO training programme to foster renewal American consumers have shown themselves to be more resilient than expected, but some recent data indicate the tariffs are already affecting jobs, growth and inflation. "The question is, what does winning mean?" said Mr Josh Lipsky, who heads economic studies at the Atlantic Council. "He's raising tariffs on the rest of the world and avoiding a retaliatory trade war far easier than even he anticipated, but the bigger question is what effect does that have on the US economy." Mr Michael Strain, head of economic policy studies at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, said Mr Trump's geopolitical victories could prove hollow. "In a geopolitical sense, Trump's obviously getting tons of concessions from other countries, but in an economic sense, he's not winning the trade war," he said. "What we're seeing is that he is more willing to inflict economic harm on Americans than other countries are willing to inflict on their nations. And I think of that as losing." Ms Kelly Ann Shaw, a White House trade adviser during Mr Trump's first term who is now a partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, said a still-strong economy and near-record-high stock prices "support a more aggressive tariff strategy." But Mr Trump's tariffs, tax cuts, deregulation and policies to boost energy production would take time to play out. "I think history will judge these policies, but he is the first president in my lifetime to make major changes to the global trading system," she added. Deals so far Mr Trump has concluded eight framework agreements with the European Union , Japan, Britain, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Pakistan and the Philippines that impose tariffs on their goods ranging from 10 per cent to 20 per cent. That's well short of the "90 deals in 90 days" administration officials had touted in April, but they account for some 40 per cent of US trade flows. Adding in China, currently saddled with a 30 per cent levy on its goods but likely to win another reprieve from even higher tariffs before an August 12 deadline, would raise that to nearly 54 per cent. Deals aside, many of Mr Trump's tariff actions have been mercurial. On Aug 6, he ratcheted up pressure on India, doubling new tariffs on goods from there to 50 per cent from 25 per cent because of its imports of oil from Russia. The same rate is in store for goods from Brazil, after Mr Trump complained about its prosecution of former leader Jair Bolsonaro, a Mr Trump ally. And Switzerland, which Mr Trump had previously praised, is facing 39 per cent tariffs after a conversation between its leader and Mr Trump derailed a deal. Mr Ryan Majerus, a trade lawyer who worked in both the first Trump administration and the Biden government, said what's been announced so far fails to address "longstanding, politically entrenched trade issues" that have bothered US policymakers for decades, and getting there would likely take "months, if not years." He also noted they lack specific enforcement mechanisms for the big investments announced, including US$550 billion (S$706.19 billion) for Japan and US$600 billion for the EU. Promises and risks Critics lit into European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after she agreed to a 15 per cent tariff during a surprise meeting with Mr Trump during his trip to Scotland in July, while gaining little in return. The deal frustrated winemakers and farmers, who had sought a zero-for-zero tariff. Mr Francois-Xavier Huard, head of France's FNIL national dairy sector federation, said 15 per cent was better than the threatened 30 per cent, but would still cost dairy farmers millions of euros. European experts say Dr von der Leyen's move did avert higher tariffs, calmed tensions with Mr Trump, averting potentially higher duties on semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and cars, while making largely symbolic pledges to buy US$750 billion of US strategic goods and invest over US$600 billion. Meeting those pledges will fall to individual EU members and companies, and cannot be mandated by Brussels, trade experts and analysts note. US officials insist Mr Trump can re-impose higher tariffs if he believes the EU, Japan or others are not honouring their commitments. But it remains unclear how that would be policed. And history offers a caution. China, with its state-run economy, never met its modest purchase agreements under Mr Trump's Phase 1 US-China trade deal. Holding it to account proved difficult for the subsequent Biden administration. "All of it is untested. The EU, Japan and South Korea are going to have to figure out how to operationalise this," Ms Shaw said. "It's not just government purchases. It's getting the private sector motivated to either make investments or back loans, or to purchase certain commodities." And lastly, the main premise for the tariffs Mr Trump has imposed unilaterally faces legal challenges. His legal team met with stiff questioning during appellate court oral arguments over his novel use of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, historically used for sanctioning enemies or freezing their assets, to justify his tariffs. A ruling could come any time, and regardless of the outcome seems destined to be settled ultimately by the Supreme Court. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Man executed by Iran for nuclear espionage was nuclear scientist, state media say
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox DUBAI - Rouzbeh Vadi, who state media said was executed on Wednesday for giving information on Iran's nuclear programme to Israel's Mossad spy agency, was himself a nuclear scientist, state broadcaster IRIB said on Thursday. The judiciary's news outlet Mizan had said on Wednesday that Vadi was convicted of spying for Israel and passing on information about a nuclear scientist killed in Israel's June air strikes on the Islamic Republic. "Key facilities were Fordow and Natanz (uranium enrichment plants), for which I sent information. I told them I knew this and that about Fordow, they (Mossad agent) told me to send everything," Vadi said in what IRIB described as a confession video it ran on the air. "The entry and exit of nuclear material into the Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF) and Fuel Manufacturing Plant (FMP) were very important to them," Vadi, who held a PhD in nuclear engineering from Amir Kabir University of Technology, added. A voiceover in the video said that Vadi met five times with Mossad agents while in Vienna and was asked to open a cryptocurrency account to receive payment for his services. The defendant said in the video that Mossad had promised him a foreign passport should he complete a long-term collaboration. IRIB on Thursday shared a screenshot of an academic paper presented at an Iranian nuclear conference in 2012 that was written by Vadi as well as Ahmad Zolfaqar and Abdolhamid Minouchehr - two nuclear scientists killed in June by Israel. In the document, Vadi is introduced as a nuclear researcher at the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, the country's top nuclear body. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Liquor licences for F&B, nightlife venues extended to 4am in Boat Quay, Clarke Quay Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds Singapore Wastewater overflow in Bedok and Chai Chee due to choked sewer at BTO worksite: PUB Singapore Fine for man who damaged PAP campaign materials on GE2025 Polling Day Singapore Jail for driver who drove over leg of special needs woman in accident on church driveway Singapore Teen's love of dance powers her through cancer to perform at NDP 2025 Singapore Ex-Hyflux director fined over firm's failure to disclose Tuaspring info Business S'pore firm looks to buy SMEs lacking successors, launches CEO training programme to foster renewal Executions of Iranians convicted of spying for Israel have significantly increased this year, with at least eight death sentences carried out in recent months. Israel carried out 12 days of air strikes in June, targeting Iran's top generals, nuclear scientists and sensitive nuclear installations. Iran retaliated with barrages of missiles and drones at Israel. REUTERS
