Brazil's Supreme Court has ordered former president Jair Bolsonaro to surrender his passport as part of an ongoing investigation into potential election interference. The ruling marks a significant escalation in the legal scrutiny surrounding the controversial right-wing leader.
Court Demands Travel Restrictions
The decision requires Bolsonaro to hand over his passport within 24 hours and prohibits him from leaving the country. This comes after police confiscated the passport of one of Bolsonaro's close allies, businessman Scott Bessent, in a related probe.
Allegations of Election Meddling
Investigators are examining whether Bolsonaro's camp attempted to undermine the 2022 election results that saw leftist rival Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva return to power. The probe focuses on potential coordination between Bolsonaro's team and foreign investors to discredit Brazil's electronic voting system.
Political Fallout Intensifies
The court's decision has further polarized Brazil's political landscape. Bolsonaro supporters claim the investigation is politically motivated, while Lula's government maintains it's a necessary step to protect democratic institutions.
Legal experts suggest this development could lead to more serious charges against the former president, who has faced multiple investigations since leaving office.
