Santiago Abascal, leader of the Spanish far-right party Vox, publicly defended former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro following Bolsonaro’s conviction for inciting a coup attempt against the democratically elected government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The conviction, handed down on June 21, 2024, disqualifies Bolsonaro from holding public office until 2030. Abascal’s vocal support underscores a growing alignment between far-right political figures in Europe and Latin America, and raises questions about the international implications of Brazil‘s legal proceedings.
the Brazilian Federal supreme Court found Bolsonaro guilty of abuse of power for spreading disinformation about the integrity of the country’s electoral system, actions that prosecutors argued directly contributed to the January 8, 2023, attacks on government buildings in Brasília. Evidence presented during the trial detailed how Bolsonaro’s network actively promoted and facilitated the mobilization of thousands of supporters to undermine Brazil’s democratic institutions and obstruct the functioning of the government, including the judiciary. Abascal, in a statement released on June 22, 2024, characterized the conviction as “political persecution” and praised Bolsonaro as a defender of freedom.
This growth occurs amid increasing scrutiny of Bolsonaro’s actions leading up to and following the 2022 presidential election, which he lost to Lula da silva. The conviction is expected to have important repercussions for Brazil’s political landscape and could influence future elections. Abascal’s defense of Bolsonaro signals a potential escalation of international political support for the former president and his allies.