Brazilian Supreme Court Orders Arrest of Eduardo Bolsonaro Amid Heated Presidential Runoff

A Brazilian Supreme Court justice has issued an arrest warrant for Eduardo Bolsonaro, brother of presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, in a decision set to intensify the fiercely contested election. Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the warrant on Thursday, arriving just weeks prior to the runoff election between incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro, who is the favourite to win.

In June, the Brazilian Supreme Court convicted Eduardo Bolsonaro on charges of lobbying the US to interfere in the trial of his father, former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro. Eduardo Bolsonaro has served as a vital bridge between his brother and the Trump administration, joining him for a May meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House. Both factions of Brazil's profoundly divided political landscape have continuously accused each other of corruption and lawfare as political tensions peak ahead of the October 25 runoff.

During March 2025, Eduardo Bolsonaro announced he would relocate to the US permanently to dedicate all his efforts toward securing the release of his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro. This decision resulted in the loss of his seat in the Brazilian National Congress and his position as a federal police investigator. The 42-year-old former lawmaker currently resides in Texas and holds a green card. He faced conviction for lobbying to apply sanctions against members of the Brazilian government and to raise tariffs on national exports during his father's legal proceedings.

Supreme Court justice De Moraes, viewed by the Bolsonaro family as a political adversary, led the probe that resulted in Jair Bolsonaro receiving a 27-year prison sentence in September 2025 for orchestrating a coup plot. In his ruling, the justice stated that Eduardo Bolsonaro must begin serving his four-year prison term without delay. De Moraes stated that the defendant cannot evade criminal law by fleeing the national territory. Additionally, De Moraes revoked Eduardo Bolsonaro's Brazilian passport and directed federal police to effect an arrest should he return to Brazil.