Brazil Prosecutor Backs Bolsonaro Visit After 90 Days

BRAZIL · POLITICS

Brazil’s chief prosecutor sees no reason to keep the presidential frontrunner from visiting his father, leaving the decision to Justice Moraes.

Brazil’s Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet does not object to Flávio Bolsonaro visiting his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro. He told the Supreme Court on Tuesday, 6 October, 19 days before Flávio faces President Lula da Silva in a runoff.

Jair Bolsonaro, a Trump ally, is serving 27 years and three months over a coup plot, now under house arrest. Justice Alexandre de Moraes barred his son from visiting for 90 days in July and must now rule on the request.

What the Prosecutor Told the Court

Bolsonaro’s lawyers filed the request on Monday, 5 October, a day after the first round. They asked Moraes to restore regular visits or allow one visit by Flávio “exclusively for family purposes”, Correio Braziliense reported.

Moraes sent the request to the Prosecutor-General’s Office for an opinion before deciding. Gonet’s office replied on Tuesday that it saw no new facts indicating a breach of the court’s conditions.

It also saw no need to extend the restriction and said it “does not object” to granting the request. Poder360, a Brasília political news site, said the opinion was filed in criminal case 2668, the coup trial.

In Brazil a prosecutor’s opinion is advisory, and the judge is not bound by it. The decision rests with Moraes, who is the rapporteur of the case.

Why Moraes Imposed the Ban in July

Moraes imposed the ban on 13 July, according to Jovem Pan, a conservative broadcaster. He ruled that Flávio had misused his visits after he made a letter from his father public on social media.

Jair Bolsonaro is barred from using social media, directly or through other people. Moraes called the visits a “deviation of purpose” and an attempt to get around those limits.

The 90-day ban runs out on Sunday, 11 October. Correio Braziliense also reported a separate order barring visits of a “political-electoral character” until the elections are over.

Flávio Bolsonaro has questioned the ban in public. “I don’t see why he would stop a son from visiting his father,” he said, as quoted by Correio Braziliense.

Bolsonaro’s Sentence and House Arrest

Brazil’s Supreme Court convicted Jair Bolsonaro in 2025 over a plot to stay in power after losing the 2022 election to Lula. He was sentenced to 27 years and three months.

He is now serving that sentence under humanitarian house arrest, granted after surgery, according to Poder360 and Jovem Pan. He remains barred from using the internet, including through third parties.

The case has also strained ties with Washington. A White House executive order of 30 July 2025 said Brazilian officials were “persecuting” Bolsonaro.

That order added a 40% duty on certain Brazilian goods. On the same day the US Treasury sanctioned Moraes, citing free-speech and detention abuses.

A Campaign Shadowed by the Supreme Court

Flávio, a senator for Rio de Janeiro from the conservative Liberal Party (PL), topped the first round on Sunday, 4 October. He won 47.03% of valid votes against 45.16% for Lula, according to the Superior Electoral Court (TSE).

Lula, of the left-wing Workers’ Party (PT), is seeking a fourth term. The Supreme Court is a campaign theme: on Tuesday, Flávio’s campaign chief also met the court’s president, Edson Fachin.

What It Means for You

For Washington, Jair Bolsonaro’s treatment has been an explicit policy issue since the 2025 tariff order. Any ruling by Moraes on the family will be read in that light.

For investors in Brazilian assets, friction between the frontrunner’s camp and the Supreme Court is part of the runoff risk. Travel and business conditions do not change.

What Is Not Known

It is not known when Moraes will rule. It is also unclear whether he would restore regular visits or allow a single family visit only.

The full text of the prosecutor’s opinion was not available. Quotations come from Jovem Pan and Poder360, which reported on the filing.

The separate ban on “political-electoral” visits is known only from press reports. Its exact wording and duration could not be checked against the court order.

What Comes Next

Moraes can rule at any time, and the 90-day ban expires on Sunday, 11 October, in any case. The runoff between Flávio Bolsonaro and Lula follows two weeks later.

Lifting the ban would not end Jair Bolsonaro’s house arrest or shorten his sentence. It would not restore his access to social media either.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Flávio Bolsonaro?

He is a senator for Rio de Janeiro and the eldest son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. He is the Liberal Party’s presidential candidate and topped the first round with 47.03% of valid votes.

Why can’t Flávio visit his father?

Justice Alexandre de Moraes banned his visits for 90 days in July after Flávio made a letter from his father public online. The former president is barred from using social media, directly or through others.

Is Jair Bolsonaro in prison?

He is serving a sentence of 27 years and three months over a coup plot. He is held under humanitarian house arrest, granted after surgery.

When is Brazil’s presidential runoff?

Brazil votes on Sunday, 25 October, choosing between Flávio Bolsonaro and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Voting is compulsory for most adults.

Sources: Poder360, PGR opinion; Jovem Pan, PGR opinion; Correio Braziliense, defence request; Poder360, Marinho and Fachin; Superior Electoral Court (TSE), first-round result; White House, executive order of 30 July 2025; US Treasury, Moraes sanctions (all accessed 7 October 2026).