A lesson in resistance by an unexpected lecturer: Brazil’s process against former president Bolsonaro

What happens when a country whose political system is far from perfect perseveres in the face of threats and proceeds undeterred with the arrest of its former president? One thing’s for certain; Donald Trump isn’t happy at all about the recent turn of events. The president of the most powerful nation of the world saw his warnings dismissed by the Brazilian judge Alexandre de Moraes, who finalized Jair Bolsonaro’s house-arrest on charges – among others – of attempted coup.

For a country freshly free of military dictatorship, the Supreme Court’s ruling issued on August 4 is a prime example of resilience and it conveys a clear message: Brazil won’t let go of its recently acquired democracy – flawed as it may be – without a fight. Trump’s intimidations, striving to get Bolsonaro acquitted for the sake of his own economic interests, luckily haven’t managed to coerce the Brazilian government into accepting his demands.

Such unforeseen development has reignited hope in the many despairing about the current global climate and, particularly, about the preoccupying resurgence of far-right movements in the Western hemisphere. But what does the fact that a conservative judge has become the symbol of resistance against oppression imply about the goings-on in self-proclaimed democratic countries? With Europeans struggling to protect their freedom and the USA – the ‘land of the free’ – degenerating into a dystopic reality, certainly nothing good is on the horizon.

For now, though, let us give credit where credit’s due and applaud Brazil for engaging in such an impressive feat. There are going to be set-backs down the line, as the latest demonstrations pressuring for Bolsonaro’s release have demonstrated; however, Brazilians deserve respect for standing up for themselves and for what they believe in. Here’s to hoping their actions will inspire those in need.

English translation:

Donald Trump has brought Europe to its knees, but he still has a thorn in his side. The US president has pressured and threatened the Brazilian government, imposed 50 percent tariffs on products from the South American country, revoked visas for eight of its supreme court judges, and even applied the Magnitsky Act—previously reserved for serious human rights violations or corruption cases—against Judge Alexandre de Moraes. The stated aim of these maneuvers is to force the acquittal of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of five crimes, including plotting a coup. Yet on August 4, de Moraes, who is in charge of the case, ordered Bolsonaro to be placed under house arrest.

The resistance to Trump’s blackmail, who is probably more interested in gaining economic advantages than in protecting Bolsonaro, shows that democratic institutions are still important and capable of resisting. This is no small feat in a world dominated by the rise of the far right and one of the worst men in history. Democracy only returned to Brazil in 1985, after 21 years of military dictatorship supported by the United States. This past makes the current resistance even more significant.

The resistance of the Brazilian Supreme Court, which confirmed the arrest of former President Jair Bolsonaro, shows that democratic institutions are still important.

Flawed, incomplete, besieged, and better at rewarding the elites than defending the poorest, Brazilian democracy withstood the coup attempt of January 8, 2023, better than the US democracy, too often called “the world’s greatest democracy.” Bolsonaro was arrested, while Trump never had to take responsibility for the assault on Congress and is now dedicated to destroying the planet to serve his personal interests and those of big business.

One of Bolsonaro’s sons moved to the United States and from there promotes a war against his country, because the only thing he cares about is his family’s power. On August 3, tens of thousands of the former president’s supporters marched in Brazilian cities to support him, but Bolsonaro was unable to participate because he was already wearing an electronic bracelet and was subject to various restrictions. Although he was unable to express himself on social media, he made his presence felt at the protests in Rio de Janeiro with a video posted on the profile of another of his sons. By ordering house arrest for the former president, de Moraes showed that the law still carries weight.

This is a difficult time for Brazil. Lula is unable to control the government, while the most predatory Congress in history, largely financed by multinationals, is destroying the legal system protecting the Amazon. Inevitably, the 50 percent tariffs on trade with the United States, which are difficult to negotiate, will have serious consequences. However, the Bolsonaro family’s attacks also affect the interests of the agri-food industry and other sectors which, although allied with the far right, are concerned about their profits. This seems to have changed the balance of power. In an attempt to improve Lula’s low popularity, the government has appealed to nationalism and sovereignty, issues very dear to the far right. This is a very dangerous path, the outcome of which appears uncertain. The transformation of Alexandre de Moraes into a ‘hero’ of the resistance highlights the gravity of the moment, especially considering that the magistrate is anything but progressive and was appointed by Michel Temer, who became president in 2016 by orchestrating a procedure to impeach Dilma Rousseff.

There will be major upheavals in the future, and we cannot take anything for granted. But the fact remains that Bolsonaro is under house arrest and, for the first time, the generals are in the dock for attempting to overthrow the government. The Brazilian judicial system deserves criticism, but it has managed to impose crucial limits and has resisted relentless attacks.

Through struggle, we have learned to appreciate every achievement, especially when victories are fleeting. So today we celebrate because Bolsonaro has one foot in prison and Donald Trump has a thorn in his side that distracts him while on the golf course from where he humiliated Europe.

11 September 2025 · albrachini · Lead Story