Brazil Supreme Court orders arrest of Eduardo Bolsonaro ahead of brother's runoff

Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered Eduardo Bolsonaro to begin serving four years and two months for coercion in judicial proceedings and issued an arrest warrant after appeals failed and the conviction became final on Oct. 3. Moraes canceled his Brazilian passports and said police must arrest him if he returns. Bolsonaro has lived in Texas since 2025. The term is to start in a semi-open regime with a fine of 50 daily payments. He is barred from public office until 2038. He lost his Chamber seat for missed sessions and was dismissed in September from a Federal Police secretary post for abandonment of duty. In a separate September case brought by Tabata Amaral he received one year for defamation. The case was tied to lobbying for U.S. sanctions and tariffs during Jair Bolsonaro's coup trial; Jair Bolsonaro received 27 years in that trial. The step lands ahead of the Oct. 25 runoff between Flávio Bolsonaro and President Lula. Eduardo Bolsonaro said on X the measure, taken in mid-election, only inflames tensions needlessly. Moraes said a defendant cannot gain by fleeing to frustrate criminal enforcement. Flávio Bolsonaro criticized the ruling and pointed to Senate impeachment support. Some reporting calls U.S. extradition unlikely. Return and service of the term remain open. Center-rated coverage in the sample was a single headline.