Ione Wells

Now, this is a slightly complicated angle to all of this, but Alexander de Moraes is one of the Supreme Court judges who essentially will now decide Bolsonaro's future, will decide whether he goes to trial, essentially. Moraes has become a bit of an international name because he's

Now, this is a slightly complicated angle to all of this, but Alexander de Moraes is one of the Supreme Court judges who essentially will now decide Bolsonaro's future, will decide whether he goes to trial, essentially. Moraes has become a bit of an international name because he's

in the past ordered social media platforms to take down certain accounts that have been investigated for disinformation, for particularly political disinformation or undermining democracy. And Trump's media company are now sort of taking him on legally. But I think the timing of this is significant. The fact that it's less than 24 hours after this charge was brought.

in the past ordered social media platforms to take down certain accounts that have been investigated for disinformation, for particularly political disinformation or undermining democracy. And Trump's media company are now sort of taking him on legally. But I think the timing of this is significant. The fact that it's less than 24 hours after this charge was brought.

And suddenly the judge at the centre of it all is actually now being sort of taken on legally by Donald Trump and his company is quite interesting. On your wider point, though, of, you know, what could Trump actually do to assist Bolsonaro?

And suddenly the judge at the centre of it all is actually now being sort of taken on legally by Donald Trump and his company is quite interesting. On your wider point, though, of, you know, what could Trump actually do to assist Bolsonaro?

I think a lot of it is about sort of their support that they show online, the way that they're managed to really rally up people, use them as a cause that they can get international media's attention on, get their sort of fan base energised by. Practically, though... he is potentially going to face a legal process in Brazil.

I think a lot of it is about sort of their support that they show online, the way that they're managed to really rally up people, use them as a cause that they can get international media's attention on, get their sort of fan base energised by. Practically, though... he is potentially going to face a legal process in Brazil.

So there is a bit of a question mark about whether that support, that rhetoric, only goes so far, really. If...

So there is a bit of a question mark about whether that support, that rhetoric, only goes so far, really. If...

Yeah, I think to make another comparison with the US here, you know, the election that's due here in 2026 has a lot of parallels with the last US election. You have an elderly incumbent on the left who has had some recent health issues, who will be nearly 81 by the time of the next election, who is probably going to face pressure not to run again. That's President Lula.

Yeah, I think to make another comparison with the US here, you know, the election that's due here in 2026 has a lot of parallels with the last US election. You have an elderly incumbent on the left who has had some recent health issues, who will be nearly 81 by the time of the next election, who is probably going to face pressure not to run again. That's President Lula.

Then you have, if, as you say, if Jair Bolsonaro is in some way allowed to run again, if this ban were to be lifted or if he wasn't to face trial and legal challenges ahead, you know, you then have this very popular right-wing figure who is energised by, you know, presumably, if he's got to that point, overcoming various legal barriers and and still has a big base in Brazil.

Then you have, if, as you say, if Jair Bolsonaro is in some way allowed to run again, if this ban were to be lifted or if he wasn't to face trial and legal challenges ahead, you know, you then have this very popular right-wing figure who is energised by, you know, presumably, if he's got to that point, overcoming various legal barriers and and still has a big base in Brazil.

He is still very much the figurehead of the right in Brazil. His Liberal Party is the largest in Congress. He's still able to attract big rallies across the country. He, as I say, has big support among evangelical Christians, among farmers, agriculture business. Polls still suggest that he's the most popular right-wing figure. So I think that base is certainly still there.

He is still very much the figurehead of the right in Brazil. His Liberal Party is the largest in Congress. He's still able to attract big rallies across the country. He, as I say, has big support among evangelical Christians, among farmers, agriculture business. Polls still suggest that he's the most popular right-wing figure. So I think that base is certainly still there.

I think where, again, there are parallels to Donald Trump is you do have some figures on the right, too, who can't really stomach him and feel like he is a toxic brand and basically privately probably would much rather that he does potentially go to jail and that they can kind of rebuild a more moderate right wing challenge to President Lula and the left in Brazil.

I think where, again, there are parallels to Donald Trump is you do have some figures on the right, too, who can't really stomach him and feel like he is a toxic brand and basically privately probably would much rather that he does potentially go to jail and that they can kind of rebuild a more moderate right wing challenge to President Lula and the left in Brazil.

But I think it is fair to say that, yeah, were he to overcome these barriers, he would be a really significant electoral force, not least because he still has the sort of campaigning material behind him. He's still got a big base on social media and in real life here.

But I think it is fair to say that, yeah, were he to overcome these barriers, he would be a really significant electoral force, not least because he still has the sort of campaigning material behind him. He's still got a big base on social media and in real life here.