Senator and presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro called for the resignation of Brazilian Supreme Federal Court (STF) Justice Alexandre de Moraes, after the magistrate ordered the enforcement of the prison sentence of his brother, Eduardo Bolsonaro, convicted of coercing the Judiciary. "Moraes, do the Nation a favor and resign," said the opposition leader.
The candidate, who obtained 47% of the votes in the first round on October 4, will face off on the 25th against current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who reached 45%. Flávio Bolsonaro accused the magistrate of issuing measures to interfere in the runoff campaign and called him a "human rights violator."
The reaction came after the magistrate ordered the execution of the four-year and two-month prison sentence against Eduardo Bolsonaro. The former congressman, who has resided in the United States since 2025, received the sentence for coercion during the course of a judicial proceeding.
De Moraes also ordered the issuance of an arrest warrant, the cancellation of the former legislator's Brazilian passports, the suspension of his political rights for the duration of the sentence, and measures to formalize his removal from his position in the Federal Police.
Flávio Bolsonaro argued that the decision is "ineffectual" because his brother is in the United States. "He knows it is an ineffectual measure that will not result in anything, but he decides to issue it in the midst of the …
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Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, of the Liberal Party (PL), on October 7, 2026 (REUTERS/Diego Herculano)Senator and presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro called for the resignation of Brazilian Supreme Federal Tribunal (STF) Justice Alexandre de Moraes, after the magistrate ordered the enforcement of the prison sentence of his brother, Eduardo Bolsonaro, convicted of coercing the Judiciary. "Moraes, do the Nation a good turn and resign," said the opposition leader. The candidate, who obtained 47% of the vote in the October 4 first round, will face current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who reached 45%, on the 25th. Flávio Bolsonaro accused the magistrate of issuing measures to interfere in the runoff campaign and called him a "human rights violator." The reaction came after the magistrate ordered the execution of the four-year and two-month prison sentence against Eduardo Bolsonaro. The former congressman, who has resided in the United States since 2025, received the sentence for coercion in the course of a judicial proceeding. De Moraes also ordered the issuance of an arrest warrant, the cancellation of the former legislator's Brazilian passports, the suspension of his political rights for the duration of the sentence, and measures to formalize his removal from his post in the Federal Police. Alexandre de Moraes, Supreme Court justice, gives a thumbs-up during a plenary session of the court, Wednesday, September 2, 2026, in Brasília, Brazil. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)Flávio Bolsonaro argued that the decision is "ineffectual" because his brother is in the United States. "He knows it is an ineffectual measure that will lead to nothing, but he decides to issue it in the middle of the elections to generate noise," he charged. The senator linked the ruling to the proceeding that convicted his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, to 27 years in prison for a coup plot. De Moraes was the presiding judge in that case. The candidate also asserted that the Senate taking office next year will have sufficient backing to push for the removal of Supreme Federal Tribunal justices. "After Sunday's elections we already have close to 50 senators, out of the Senate's total of 81 members, who are in favor of removing justices who abuse their power," he declared. "The Senate will be in charge of protecting the Supreme Court from people like you," Flávio Bolsonaro concluded, addressing the magistrate. The senator said he intends for his father to hand him the presidential sash if he wins the October 25 runoff against Lula da Silva. "You will see President Jair Bolsonaro placing the presidential sash on his son!" promised the Liberal Party leader during an event in Goiânia, capital of the state of Goiás. The right-wing presidential hopeful traveled to that city to seek the endorsement of Governor Ronaldo Caiado, one of the candidates defeated in Sunday's first round, and reiterated his intention for the former president to take part in a possible inauguration ceremony, even though Jair Bolsonaro is serving house arrest after receiving a 27-year prison sentence for leading a coup plot following his 2022 electoral defeat. Jair Bolsonaro speaks to the press with his son Flávio behind him (ADRIANO MACHADO/REUTERS)The handover of the presidential sash is one of the central moments of the inauguration in Brazil. Tradition establishes that the outgoing head of state places the insignia on his successor. However, that protocol was not followed in January 2023, when Jair Bolsonaro traveled to the United States before the end of his term. Lula then received the sash from a group of citizens chosen as representatives of different sectors of society. Flávio Bolsonaro did not explain how he would seek to have his father take part in the ceremony if he wins the second round. The senator, however, promised to pardon the former head of state and described him as "one of the greatest victims of an injustice in the country."(With information from EFE)