A violent showdown between an ally of President Jair Bolsonaro and police over the weekend is stirring an already febrile election campaign in Brazil, as deep political polarization bubbles over just days before a tense runoff vote.
to arrest him on the order of the Supreme Court after he attacked a judge in comments online. Jefferson was already under house arrest for his alleged role in organizing "anti-democratic acts" threatening courts.
"What we saw on Sunday could well be the prelude to a new wave of political violence, in particular amongst groups who won't accept the election result if President Bolsonaro loses," said Mauricio Santoro, a political scientist at the State University of Rio de Janeiro. Bolsonaro, who has railed against the Supreme Court for judicial overreach and urged his supporters to take up arms to avoid being "enslaved," sought to quickly distance himself from Jefferson. In a short video address late on Sunday, Bolsonaro said anyone who shoots at police is a "bandit," adding that his thoughts were with the injured officers.
"How does someone cited in several criminal cases have an authorization to register weapons, including an automatic rifle?" one federal officer said. "What is his authorization to carry grenades?"