Bolsonaro returns to Brazil for the first time since the January 8 riots

Jair Polosonaro returned Thursday morning to Brazil for the first time since his defeat in the presidential elections in the face of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on a commercial flight from Florida in the United States, where he spent three months, according to scenes broadcast by CNN-Brazil.

The former far-right president (2019-2022), who announced his intention to return to politics, left Brasilia International Airport without going to meet about 200 of his supporters who were waiting for him and chanting his name, amid heavy security deployment.

After his electoral defeat by leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in October, Bolsonaro left Brazil for Florida on December 30, two days before Lula was sworn in.
I will resume my normal life, I will work for the Liberal Party and I will visit all parts of Brazil and participate in politics
“I will never lead the opposition,” Bolsonaro said in an interview with CNN-Brazil at Orlando Airport before boarding the plane. “I will participate in (the political life) of my party by offering my experience.”

Bolsonaro, 68, who left the country after a defeat by less than two million votes, announced last week his intention to return, saying, “I will resume my normal life, I will work for the Liberal Party, I will visit all parts of Brazil, and I will participate in political life.”

However, Bolsonaro is facing several legal troubles in the midst of a controversy over his attempt to bring jewelry worth $ 3.2 million into the country in the bag of a government official without declaring it, according to what was revealed by the “Estado de Sao Paulo” newspaper.

It also emerged that Bolsonaro kept a second set of Chopard jewelry and tried to bring them in without a permit. Part of it was returned. Also, he is subject to five investigations before the Supreme Court in cases that may lead to prison sentences.
The latest concerns his role in the January 8 riots against positions of power in Brasilia, which were vandalized by thousands of his supporters. The other four cases relate to alleged misdemeanors committed during his tenure: misinformation about an electronic voting system or about Covid.

The former president is also involved in at least 16 investigations before the Supreme Electoral Court.