Brazil high court says Argentina's Milei cannot visit Bolsonaro

Brazil's top court on Saturday denied a request by Argentine President Javier Milei to visit former Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest, a ruling obtained by AFP showed.

Milei is expected to attend the convention of Bolsonaro's Liberal Party on July 25 in Sao Paulo, at which Bolsonaro's son Flavio, a senator, is expected to be named the conservative movement's candidate for the upcoming October polls.

Bolsonaro's attorneys had asked that Milei be able to see Bolsonaro at that time, but Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has banned all visits to the ex-president for 30 days, as punishment for publication of a letter transmitted by his son. 

That violated a ban on his use of social media, including via third parties.

Moraes said Saturday that Milei's request was moot due to the overall ban. Doctors, physical therapists and Bolsonaro's attorneys are exempt and can still visit him.

Bolsonaro, 71, is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup to overturn the results of the 2022 election, in which he was defeated by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. He is banned from public office, though he is appealing.

He was moved to house arrest in March for health reasons.

Moraes said that additionally Bolsonaro cannot have any visits for "political or electoral purposes" until after the elections, nor can he disseminate any political messages.

Flavio Bolsonaro has hit out at Moraes over his decisions, calling them politically motivated. 

The visit request had also included Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno, Milei's sister Karina, who serves in his government, and a translator.

Bolsonaro's attorney Joao Henrique de Freitas questioned the "motivation and proportionality" of the rulings on X, saying: "Brazil deserves transparency, not convenient coincidences."

In October's election, Flavio Bolsonaro is expected to face Lula, who is seeking reelection.

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© Agence France-Presse