Brazilian Former President Bolsonaro Returns From Florida Exile

Author: Editors Desk Source: WSJ:

March 30, 2023 at 07:30

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro says he welcomes probes into what the current president has branded a coup attempt on his government. PHOTO: ALEX BRANDON/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Popular politician faces accusations that he incited attacks on government buildings earlier this year

BRASÍLIA—Brazil’s conservative former President Jair Bolsonaro returned to the country Thursday for the first time since his leftist rival President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office in January, coming home to crowds of adoring supporters and scores of criminal investigations.

The 68-year-old army captain-turned-politician, who had been hunkered down in Florida since late December, is being investigated by the Supreme Court over prosecutors’ accusations that he incited attacks on government buildings earlier this year. Mr. Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing, saying he welcomes probes into what Mr. da Silva has branded a coup attempt on his government.

Hundreds of supporters waving Brazil’s green and yellow flag gathered at the airport in the capital, Brasília, for his arrival early Thursday, chanting the national anthem and screaming his name. The former president is expected to make his way from the airport to the headquarters of the conservative Liberal Party, where he will be named honorary president and given a monthly salary of some $8,000, according to people close to Mr. Bolsonaro.

Write to Luciana Magalhaes at luciana.magalhaes@wsj.com and Samantha Pearson at samantha.pearson@wsj.com