Brazil’s Supreme Court has barred Senator Flavio Bolsonaro from visiting his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, for 90 days after ruling that the ex-president breached the conditions of his house arrest.
The decision, issued on Monday by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, means the restriction will remain in place until after Brazil’s first-round presidential election on 4 October, potentially affecting Flavio Bolsonaro’s campaign against incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. A second-round runoff, if required, is scheduled for 25 October.
Justice Moraes said the ruling followed a social media post over the weekend in which Flavio shared a letter written by his father. The court determined that the post violated Jair Bolsonaro’s house arrest conditions, which prohibit him from using social media, mobile phones or any other communication devices, either directly or through third parties.
The letter was published amid reports of tensions between Flavio Bolsonaro and his stepmother, former First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro. In the message, the former president urged his family and supporters to put aside their differences and unite behind his son’s presidential bid.
Flavio Bolsonaro strongly criticised the court’s decision during a livestream, describing the 90-day visitation ban as “disproportionate” and accusing the judiciary of attempting to influence the upcoming election. He also questioned why the restriction had been set for exactly 90 days.
Representatives for Jair Bolsonaro did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The former president was sentenced last year to more than 27 years in prison after being convicted over a plot to stage a coup following his defeat to Lula in the 2022 presidential election. He was later transferred to house arrest on medical grounds.
Justice Moraes has also ordered Jair Bolsonaro’s legal team to explain within 48 hours whether the former president knew that his letter would be shared publicly on social media by his son.
