Jailhouse Surprise: Brazil's Ex-President Bolsonaro Confronts Time in Prison
He contested the law and the law triumphed.
Sixty days after receiving a 27-year sentence for trying to “eradicate” Brazil’s democratic institutions, one-time leader Jair Bolsonaro now appears headed to prison.
Imminent Jailing
The found-guilty coup-monger – who's been living under home confinement in his mansion while a series of court processes and appeals unfold – is broadly anticipated to be jailed in the next few days, during growing rumors that he will be sent to a notorious top-security prison.
Historical Statements on Prisoners
During Bolsonaro’s 40-year public life, the right-wing ex- military man displayed scant sympathy for the country's jailed individuals.
“What’s the need to provide these lowlifes a good life?” he previously wondered. “They should just get messed, end of story. That's my view.”
At another time, Bolsonaro proclaimed: “Should you not wish to end up behind bars, the only thing required is to avoid rape, abduction or theft.”
Prison Location Speculation
But the idea of Bolsonaro himself landing in the Papuda high-security prison in Brasília has appalled backers, a group of four this week visited the facility in an seeming bid to discourage the judiciary from banishing him there.
Senator Lucas, a lawmaker from Bolsonaro’s allied group who was among that group, claimed he predicted the 70-year-old politician to be imprisoned in the next 10 days and feared his destination could be Papuda.
The senator argued Bolsonaro’s serious gut issues – the consequence of a near-fatal assault during the 2018 election race – implied it would be hazardous to keep the former president there. “His [health] situation is very grave. He cannot to cope if they send him to Papuda … It could be terrible,” said the senator, who also voiced anxiety about cramped cells and the quality of prison meals.
When inspecting Papuda, Lucas noted witnessing cells accommodating forty prisoners: “That’s practically one square meter per prisoner.
“We talked to the prisoners and they grumble, unsurprisingly, of the terrible food,” continued the senator.
Backers Speak Out
The senator isn't the lone figure expressing views prior to the former president’s predicted detention.
Authoring in a leading daily, another ally, the former communications minister Fábio Wajngarten, deplored the “brutal” finale to Bolsonaro’s “spotless” public service and alleged Brazil was about to witness “the greatest unfairness in its record”.
“It is an injustice that erodes the hearts of millions people in Brazil,” the former minister said.
Mixed Popular Response
This could be true given the significant backing Bolsonaro holds on the Brazilian right. However his anticipated jailing has also warmed the feelings of millions others who feel he should be imprisoned for plotting to prevent his successor from assuming office – and additionally plotting to have him assassinated.
Congressman Otoni, a representative for the current leader's political party, commented: “Nobody wishes Bolsonaro to be placed in a dark cell. Nobody wishes Bolsonaro to be sent in solitary confinement. Not a soul wishes Bolsonaro to go hungry or for him to have to sleep on the floor. We want him to get proper handling – but proper handling in prison. He must not persist being his personal jailer for his lifetime.”
He observed how Bolsonaro supporters, who have long celebrating the severe handling of convicts, had abruptly become aware to their privileges. “Only now has the extreme right – which has consistently claimed that human rights were not for offenders – decided to visit a jail to find out what conditions are actually like,” he stated.
“The former president is a offender,” the congressman maintained, but that did not mean he earned “degrading, degrading conduct”.
Possible Prison Environment
Despite speculation that Bolsonaro could be transferred to Papuda, which currently contains about 14,000 inmates, his probable destination seems to be a close prison for officers and other “particular” inmates called Papudinha (Little Papuda).
Its cells are much more pleasant than those in the primary facility, although nevertheless a far cry from the luxury Bolsonaro experienced while living in the spectacular presidential palace, about 12 miles away.
Based on reports, the cell Bolsonaro could anticipate reside in in Papudinha measures about 260 square feet – about the size of a couple of car spots – and includes a 12 square meter WC with a shower and a 12 square meter terrace. “Bolsonaro would be permitted to have a set and also a cooler in his cell as long as they were provided by his loved ones,” information stated.
Partisan Reactions
He denounced the rumoured idea to send the former leader to Papuda as “a type of revenge” on the part of the supreme court judge who oversaw Bolsonaro’s legal case and will determine his outcome in the {