Eduardo Bolsonaro Has His Mandate Revoked by Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies After Internal Leadership Decision

Brazil's political landscape was roiled this week as the Chamber of Deputies advanced the process to revoke the parliamentary mandate of Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP), the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is imprisoned for attempting a coup d’état and for plotting to assassinate president-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, vice-president-elect Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The move, which also targets Congressman Alexandre Ramagem (PL-RJ), was executed through an administrative procedure by the House's Board of Directors (Mesa Diretora), sidestepping a full plenary vote and immediately escalating political tensions in Brasília.

The decision to proceed administratively followed the expiration of the deadline for Eduardo Bolsonaro to submit his formal defense. House Speaker Hugo Motta led the effort, contacting members of the Board of Directors, many of whom were outside Brasília, on Thursday afternoon to collect the required signatures. Under internal House rules, at least four of the seven board members must sign the document for the revocation to be finalized. Congressional sources indicate this threshold is expected to be met, despite some internal dissent, including a public refusal to sign by Congressman Altineu Côrtes (PL-RJ).

Shift in Strategy Avoids Plenary Vote

The administrative route marks a significant reversal from earlier signals by Speaker Motta, who had suggested that Ramagem's case would be brought before the full plenary. The change in strategy came after consultations with party leaders, who reportedly argued that recent failed attempts to revoke mandates through plenary votes, such as the high-profile case involving Congresswoman Carla Zambelli — who is imprisoned in Italy —, had damaged the institutional credibility of the Chamber of Deputies. By using the Board of Directors, the House leadership sought a more decisive and immediate outcome.

Hugo Motta had previously said Ramagem’s case would be taken to the plenary, but the move was reversed after the Chamber’s decision to keep Congresswoman Carla Zambelli’s mandate was later annulled by the Supreme Federal Court (STF). Like Zambelli, Ramagem has a final, non-appealable conviction. The STF ordered the loss of his mandate after sentencing him to 16 years in prison for his role in the attempted coup. Ramagem is currently in the United States and is considered a fugitive.

Eduardo Bolsonaro is also in the United States and lost his seat due to excessive absences, missing 63 of 78 sessions this year, more than the one-third limit allowed by Brazil’s Constitution. His cassation does not strip him of political rights, and he is also a defendant in a separate case accusing him of attempting to pressure U.S. authorities to prevent the conviction of his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro.

Ramagem’s defense declined to comment the decision, and Eduardo Bolsonaro said on social media that his mandate was not revoked for corruption, thanking his voters.

Opposition Cries Foul

The process has drawn sharp criticism from allies of the affected lawmakers, who described the decision as "regrettable." A senior party — the leader of the PL, deputy Sóstenes Cavalcante — confirmed that Speaker Motta had initiated discussions with party representatives the previous day about convening the board to analyze the revocations. Critics argue that revoking mandates obtained through popular vote without deliberation by the full plenary represents an undue concentration of power within the House leadership.

Furthermore, opposition voices have accused the Legislative Branch of yielding to pressure from certain justices of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF), framing the episode as another sign of democratic erosion and institutional overreach.

Legal Battle Ahead

The political parties of the affected congressmen have pledged to challenge the decision at every possible legal level. Party leaders are currently consulting their legal teams to assess all possible appeals, arguing that the Chamber’s own internal rules would require similar cases to be analyzed and voted on by the plenary, as occurred in previous proceedings.

They also question whether the alleged grounds for revocation in Eduardo Bolsonaro’s case meet the strict criteria defined by House rules, noting that the extraordinary and ordinary sessions cited in the regulations have not occurred in the required form for years. The party has vowed to fight to preserve the mandates of its lawmakers "to the last instance."

As the required signatures are finalized, the Chamber of Deputies is expected to formally announce the revocation of the mandates of both Eduardo Bolsonaro and Alexandre Ramagem, setting the stage for a new and intense round of legal and political disputes in the coming weeks.

Eduardo Bolsonaro Faces Criticism for Refusing to Resign While Remaining in the U.S.

Many commentators argued that Eduardo Bolsonaro has effectively become a “paid traitor to the nation” after refusing to resign his seat in Congress despite remaining in the United States for four months. 

Living in the United States, Eduardo Bolsonaro was receiving a monthly salary of R$46,300 without working and of using his position to conspire against Brazil from abroad while being funded by Brazilians taxpayers. In fact, Eduardo, fearing being arrest upon returning to Brazil, serve only his personal and family interests rather than Brazil’s national sovereignty.

The Chamber of Deputies it was being heavily criticized that would for allowing Eduardo Bolsonaro to vote remotely from the U.S. or grant him a new 120-day leave. These initiatives show institutional tolerance for behavior that undermines the public interest, leaving Brazilian taxpayers to finance a lawmaker accused of acting against the country’s sovereignty and economic interests. 

Therefore, today's decision is a clear attempt by Hugo Motta to improve the popularity of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil and to save his weakened presidency of the House.