Brasilia is on high alert amid fears of unrest over return of Jair Bolsonaro

Brazil’s federal capital, Brasilia, has been under special security measures since Wednesday as authorities fear former President Jair Bolsonaro’s return to Brazil scheduled for Thursday’s dawn could spark unrest and even a new wave of violence. his followers. Bolsonaro, who has been in the United States for three months, announced that he will arrive at Brasilia International Airport at 7 am local time this Thursday at 11 am in Lisbon.

Throughout Wednesday, railings and other protective barriers began to be erected near the Congress, the Federal Supreme Court and the Planalto Palace, the presidential headquarters, which were violently invaded and vandalized by Bolsonaro’s supporters dissatisfied with his defeat in the October presidential election on January 8. elections to his biggest opponent, Lula da Silva. The Esplanade dos Ministerios, where almost all government bodies are concentrated, and Tres Poderes Square, where the Congress, the Presidency and the Supreme Court are located, have been blocked and vehicles will be banned indefinitely. it was already possible to see a much larger than usual number of police cars and even army soldiers on alert.

In another decision, which deeply angered Jair Bolsonaro, who, having learned about it back in the US, let out cries of rage and a lot of profanity, access to the airport was also blocked, only passengers who are about to board and there is evidence that this can overcome police blockade. The idea of ​​Bolsonaro and the leadership of his party, the Liberal Party, was to send thousands of followers to the Brasilia International Airport area to receive the former president and have him come out through the main entrance and be received as a hero by his supporters, following then to the center of the Brazilian capital on open car.

The demonstration was not banned by the authorities, but if fanatical followers of the ex-president want to gather to meet him, it should be far from the airport. Bolsonaro will also not be able to exit through the front gate, as the police have already set up an enhanced security scheme for him, passengers and airport staff, according to which the ex-head of state will be taken out of there as soon as possible. through the side exit.

Jair Bolsonaro left Brazil in a hurry on December 30, a day before the end of his mandate and the immunity he guaranteed him, and traveled to the United States, fearing arrest when he ceases to be president due to the many trials he faces in court. and who simply did not advance due to position. He announced last weekend that he would return this Thursday to, as he stated, lead the right and the opposition to Lula da Silva’s government, a decision that is considered an error in political analysis as the former president arrives at a time when in the last days new allegations of wrongdoing were brought against him, and new investigations were launched against him by the Department of Public Administration and the federal police.