Right and left occupy Avenida Paulista after Bolsonaro’s arrest

Protesters gathered this Sunday afternoon (23) on Avenida Paulista, close to the São Paulo Museum of Art (Masp), to celebrate the arrest of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL).

Called by left-wing organizations the day before, the event occupied the sidewalk and part of one of the lanes of the avenue – Paulista was, exceptionally, open to cars due to the Fuvest entrance exams.

Protesters gathered in a samba circle, with a giant inflatable doll of Bolsonaro portrayed as a prisoner in the middle of the group.

On the other side of Paulista, an act against the Lula (PT) government brought together protesters and organizers, members of the Novo party. They also took an inflatable doll to the avenue, this time of Lula in a prison outfit. Despite not supporting the way in which Bolsonaro’s arrest occurred, right-wing protesters stated that the act was not a result of this.

Further ahead, close to the headquarters of the Federation of Industries of São Paulo, dozens of Bolsonarists started a new protest. This third group asked for amnesty for Bolsonaro and members of the right arrested for the acts of January 8th.

Prison

Former president Jair Bolsonaro was preventively arrested this Saturday morning by the Federal Police as ordered by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF). The decision was taken because the magistrate considered that there was a risk of escape and there were no longer conditions to maintain house arrest. Furthermore, Bolsonaro acknowledged having used a soldering iron to try to open the electronic ankle bracelet he was using as a precautionary measure as determined by the STF.

Preventative, the arrest is not related to the conviction for the attempted coup d’état. In the case of the coup plot, the decision has not yet become final, that is, there is still a deadline for submitting appeals.

Read also: Paranoia and hallucinations after taking medication: what Bolsonaro said at a hearing

Moraes’ decision states that the electronic ankle bracelet used by Bolsonaro was violated shortly after midnight this Saturday. Furthermore, the order cites a vigil called for this evening by senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) at the door of the condominium where the former president lives.

A custody hearing by the Federal Supreme Court (STF) this Sunday maintained preventive detention. At the hearing, Bolsonaro stated that he experienced a type of “hallucination”, probably related to medication, and said that he had no intention of fleeing.

The procedure was carried out via videoconference at the Federal Police Regional Superintendence in the Federal District, where Bolsonaro was taken on Saturday morning. The conduction was carried out by an assistant judge from the office of Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the STF.

“The deponent stated that he was ‘hallucinating’ that he had a bug on his ankle bracelet, and was then trying to open the lid,” read the minutes of the hearing.