Brazil's Bolsonaro denied passport for Trump inauguration

Brazil's top court on Thursday refused to return the passport of right-wing former president Jair Bolsonaro so that he could attend the inauguration of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump.

The court said Bolsonaro still posed a flight risk, almost a year since his passport was seized as part of an investigation into his alleged orchestration of a coup attempt to remain in power after losing the 2022 election.

"The scenario that justified the imposition of the ban on leaving the country, with the surrender of passports, continues to indicate the possibility of an attempted evasion by the accused," judge Alexandre de Moraes wrote.

The authenticity of a simple email invitation to the inauguration -- sent to Bolsonaro's son Eduardo without details of the event -- was the subject of widespread media attention in Brazil this week.

Moraes had requested additional proof of the invitation, which was not provided.

Nevertheless, the court analyzed and denied the request to return Bolsonaro's passport.

In an interview with the New York Times, published shortly before the court's decision, Bolsonaro -- dubbed the "Trump of the Tropics" during his time in office -- was effervescent about the possibility of attending the inauguration.

"I'm feeling like a kid again with Trump's invite. I'm fired up. I'm not even taking Viagra anymore," Bolsonaro joked, calling Trump "the most important guy in the world."

But while his hero is returning to office, the 69-year-old former army captain is staring down multiple criminal charges from investigations launched after his razor-thin election loss to Lula.

Bolsonaro has denied all accusations and said he is being "persecuted".

He has been barred from holding public office until 2030 for casting doubts on the electoral system during his failed reelection campaign.

Police have also recommended he be charged for falsifying his Covid-19 vaccination records and misappropriating jewels and other luxury items gifted by Saudi Arabia, valued at $1.2 million.

The most serious allegation is that he "planned, acted, and had direct and effective control" over the plot to block Lula from taking office.

Police further alleged that Bolsonaro was "fully aware" of a plot by elite soldiers to assassinate Lula, vice-president Geraldo Alckmin and the high-profile judge Moraes.

Five people, including a former Bolsonaro aide, were arrested in November over the assassination plot.

© Agence France-Presse