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Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro
Photo:
Amanda Perobelli / REUTERS
What did Jair Bolsonaro want in the Hungarian embassy? Authorities and observers in Brazil are currently asking themselves this question.
In February, the Brazilian judiciary took action and carried out raids in several states. The background was the storming of the National Congress by supporters of the right-wing ex-president in January 2023. During the raids, the authorities reportedly confiscated the right-wing ex-president's cell phone. Bolsonaro also had to hand over his passport.
Now the New York Times reports: A few days later, Bolsonaro checked into the Hungarian embassy in the capital Brasília for two nights. The newspaper published corresponding video recordings from the embassy premises. As the AP news agency reports, the Brazilian federal police opened an investigation into the report.
The ties between Bolsonaro and the right-wing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán are strong; they are considered close allies.
Now there is speculation that Bolsonaro may have used his connections in Hungary to avoid possible arrest. Because of diplomatic conventions, the Brazilian federal police would not have had the authority to enter the Hungarian embassy. Accordingly, she would not have been able to arrest Bolsonaro if there was an arrest warrant.
In response, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry summoned the Hungarian Ambassador Miklos Halmai. He should explain why Bolsonaro was his guest.
Bolsonaro’s relationship “with the whole world”
Bolsonaro's lawyers said there was nothing wrong with the embassy visit. He wanted to maintain contact with officials from a friendly country. At an event at the party headquarters in São Paulo, Bolsonaro said that he received many calls from Orbán to discuss politics. According to the AP, he was referring to "relations with some heads of state around the world."
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Bolsonaro (right) and Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán in Argentina in December
Photo: Agustin Marcarian / REUTERS
Bolsonaro also indicated whose support he can apparently rely on: "If I still had my passport, I would have traveled to Israel." Bolsonaro also has close ties with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from his time as Brazilian head of state.
The right-wing populist Bolsonaro was defeated by the left-wing politician Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the runoff election for the presidency in October 2022. On January 8, 2023, supporters of the ex-military who did not want to recognize Lula's election victory stormed Congress, the seat of government and the Supreme Court in Brasília and caused considerable damage.
The Supreme Court is investigating Bolsonaro on suspicion of inciting the unrest. In June 2023, the Supreme Electoral Court banned Bolsonaro from all political office for eight years because of his unsubstantiated electoral fraud allegations. Bolsonaro rejects the allegations.
hba/AP