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.

Bolsonaro, Lula, and Trump: Political Shifts and Trade Tensions Impacting Brazil and the United States

A recent survey conducted by Pulso Brasil-Ipespe showed that the approval rating of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) rose from 43% to 46% after the conviction of former president Jair Bolsonaro for attempting a coup d’état. Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and 3 months in prison, along with other high-ranking military officials involved in the plot.

Meanwhile, Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies saw its disapproval rating climb from 63% to 70%, as attempts to pass legislation protecting politicians and coup supporters backfired. Approval fell sharply from 24% to 18%, with most Brazilians feeling Congress is disconnected from citizens’ needs.

Tax Reform and Political Bargaining in Brazil

This week, Brazil’s Senate Economic Affairs Committee approved Senator Renan Calheiros’ proposal to exempt workers earning up to R$5,000 per month (about US$1,000) from paying income tax. However, in the Chamber of Deputies, Bolsonaro-aligned lawmakers have tied the approval of this tax exemption to legislation aimed at reducing penalties for coup participants involved in the January 8th, 2023 attacks on Brazil’s democratic institutions.

Eduardo Bolsonaro’s 2026 Presidential Bid

Journalist Mônica Bergamo reported growing discussions around Eduardo Bolsonaro’s potential presidential run in 2026. Despite facing charges that could make him ineligible, Eduardo insists he will run—with or without the support of his father Jair Bolsonaro or the Liberal Party. He is even considering founding a new political party.
Right-wing leaders argue his candidacy would divide conservatives and potentially help Lula’s reelection, though some believe Eduardo is positioning himself for a stronger run in 2030.

Trump’s Tariffs on Brazilian Products and Their Economic Impact

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian products, including beef and coffee, echoing past tariffs imposed on Chinese imports. While the policy aims to reindustrialize the U.S., experts say it contradicts economic liberalism and mainly raises costs for American consumers.

Historically, the U.S. used tariffs to protect its nascent industries, but globalization has made such protectionism less viable. Analysts estimate the Brazilian economy could shrink by 0.2% to 0.5% of GDP due to these measures, particularly affecting small industries and retailers. However, key products such as Embraer aircraft and orange juice were exempted, given U.S. dependency on these imports.

Brazilian Beef Exports Grow Despite U.S. Tariffs

The 50% tariff on Brazilian beef initially lowered domestic prices in Brazil but made the product nearly inaccessible to U.S. consumers, fueling inflation in the United States.

Despite these challenges, Brazilian beef exports reached 2.41 million tons from January to August 2024, a 19% increase year-over-year, according to industry group Abrafrigo. August alone, when the tariffs took effect, was the second-best month for exports in 2024.

• China remains the top buyer, importing nearly 1 million tons (+19%), with revenue up 41% to almost US$5 billion.
  
  

• The United States holds the second spot, importing 557,000 tons (+66.5%), generating US$1.6 billion in revenue (+73.2%), despite a 46% drop in August shipments due to tariffs.
  
  

• Other markets such as Mexico, Argentina, Indonesia, and Japan are expanding, supported by government and private sector efforts to diversify Brazil’s export destinations.
  
  

Political and Economic Risks for Bolsonaro and Trump

Both Eduardo Bolsonaro and Donald Trump are facing setbacks that could weaken their political platforms. Eduardo risks fragmenting Brazil’s conservative base, while Trump’s tariffs are driving U.S. inflation and could backfire ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, when voters will choose all 435 House Representatives and one-third of the Senate.

Federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of President Jair Bolsonaro, becomes the center of a diplomatic crisis, after publicly blaming China for the coronavirus pandemic; allies of the Brazilian president distance themselves and Bolsonaro and he could suffer impeachment, according to Senator Major Olímpio

Since Thursday (19.03.2020), the Chinese Embassy in Brazil and Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro have been harshly accusing each other on social media. The Embassy of China even published a Twitter saying that the parliamentarian's speech is “absurd and prejudiced”. It all started after Eduardo blamed China for the coronavirus pandemic. The president's son blamed the Chinese government and compared Covid-19 to the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

In Brazil, Eduardo Bolsonaro's speech was widely criticized by the media, by Brazilian citizens (on Twitter) and even by Brazilian Vice President Hamilton Mourão said that Eduardo Bolsonaro's criticisms of China do not represent the government's position.

However, it is impossible to dissociate Eduardo's speech from Jair Bolsonaro's ideas. The relationship between the current president of Brazil with China has always been very complicated. During the presidential campaign, in 2018, Bolsonaro even said that China should buy Brazilian products and not "buy Brazil". Then, in 2019, during a visit to China, Bolsonaro said he was visiting a "capitalist country". Now, a member of the Bolsonaro clan decides to enter diplomatic conflict with Brazil's largest trading partner. In 2019, the trade balance with the Asian country had a surplus of another 30 billion dollars: Brazil exported 65.3 billion dollars, and imported 35.8 billion dollars.

Isolated government

According to the Congresso em Foco website, "President Jair Bolsonaro is losing support in the National Congress and in Brazilian society. Surrounded by daily national demonstrations, he is increasingly isolated.

In an exclusive interview with Congresso em Foco, a faithful ally to the president, the leader of the PSL in the Senate, Major Olimpio (SP), "says that decisive segments for the election of Bolsonaro in 2018, such as agribusiness, public security professionals and evangelicals, represented by the most influential benches in Congress, are distancing themselves from the president because of dissatisfaction with his government. Investors, he notes, also do not feel safe to bet on the country, due to the political instability created almost always by the president himself and your children".

Statement by Brazilian Economy Minister Paulo Guedes, in Washington, about AI-5 is disastrous, irresponsible and very bad for the Brazilian economy, as it alienates potential investors

In a completely irresponsible speech, Brazilian Economy Minister Paulo Guedes stated, according to Folha de S.Paulo, that it is not possible to be frightened by the idea of someone asking for AI-5 in the face of a possible radicalization of street protests in Brazil.

According to the Correio, he defended the deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PSL-SP), son of President Jair Bolsonaro, who considered the implementation of a similar act in cases of protests against the current government. According to Guedes, the speech was "a reaction to what he called summons from the left."

Guedes' irresponsible declaration generates political instability in the country and acts against the economic reforms that Guedes himself intends to make. Jair Bolsonaro's own members are largely to blame for the country's ongoing political crisis, as they constantly give statements such as these that put the nation in a political crisis.

This and countless other statements by senior government officials are obviously bad for business and economic stability because no one invests in an unstable country, where the minister of economics talks about ending rights and abolishing democracy. Paulo Guedes, who calls himself a liberal, is actually much closer to Latin American dictators like Pinochet and Maduro.

The AI-5 was the Brazilian military regime's hardest blow to the rights of Brazilian citizens. Set up on December 13, 1968, during the rule of General Costa e Silva, it was the most complete expression of the dictatorship, as it allowed the military to arbitrarily punish any Brazilian citizen considered an enemy of the regime.

It institutionalized the annulment of mandates of opposition deputies, suspended political rights and promoted layoffs and forced retirements of anti-regime civil servants. The AI-5 allowed the closing of the National Congress and other legislative houses of the country indefinitely. Since the establishment of AI-5, repression of opponents and torture practices have resurfaced in Brazil. It was the beginning of the terrible Years of Lead.

#ai5nuncamais

In an unacceptable statement, Federal Deputy Eduardo Bolsonado, the son of current Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, said the current government could implement a new AI-5, which means the closing of the National Congress and the persecution, torture and extermination of opponents

Federal Deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro, the son of current Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, explicitly threatened in an interview by saying: "If the left radicalizes this point, we will need to have an answer. And one answer may be via a new AI-5."

The AI-5 was the most repressive decree of the Brazilian military dictatorship in the decades of 1960, 1970, and 1980 that eliminated all constitutional rights and solidified a bloodthirsty and totally arbitrary military rule.

Several parties like PSOL and political movements like Livres from a broad political spectrum will represent against Eduardo Bolsonaro in the House and ask for the cancellation of his mandate for the crime of advocating for the closing of the National Congress, and the persecution of political opponents. Eduardo's speech is clearly against the Brazilian Constitution and other democratic institutions. The requests must be made to the Ethics Council of the House of Representatives and the Supreme Federal Court (STF).

Countless politicians have responded to Eduardo's speech about AI-5, for all the speeches of Jair Bolsonaro's son represent a clear setback and high risk to Brazilian democracy.

Protests in front of the Brazilian embassies in London, Berlin and Madrid call for the preservation of the Amazon; in Brazil, Bolsonaro calls emergency meeting with eight ministers to discuss the issue; Finland studies banning imports of beef from Brazil

European protesters call on Jair Bolsonaro's government to defend the forest. The wave of burning in the Amazon has become a global issue, especially after French President Emmanuel Macron said that burning in the Amazon is an “international crisis.” He called for the issue to be discussed this weekend at the G7 meeting, a group formed by Germany, Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

There are protests against Jair Bolsonaro's government in European cities such as Paris, London, Berlin, and Madrid.

The international pressure has prompted Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to call a ministerial meeting to discuss ways to combat the burnings. The Brazilian president also signed yesterday an order that all his team of ministers adopts measures to combat the burning in the Amazon rainforest.

Yesterday, Eduardo Bolsonaro, the senator and son of the Brazilian president published a video that offended the President of France. Eduardo was nominated by his father for the position of Brazilian ambassador in Washington, USA. However, work by the Brazilian Senate indicated that this measure constituted nepotism. Now, Brazilian senators will vote to decide whether or not the president's son can take office.

Today, Finland called for the European Union to consider banning imports of Brazilian meat following the burning of the Amazon