Federal Deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro is facing a critical deadline. His 120-day leave of absence from the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies will end this Sunday. If he does not return to Brazil after that, his absence will be marked as unjustified. This may result in the loss of his mandate.
According to congressional rules, a federal deputy cannot miss more than one-third of the House plenary sessions without valid reason. Eduardo Bolsonaro, who represents São Paulo, had requested the leave in March, citing “personal interests” for 120 days and “health treatment” for two additional days.
At the time of his request, Eduardo said in a video that he would spend time in the United States for political reasons. He claimed he planned to work on international sanctions against people who violate human rights.
Eduardo Bolsonaro is the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. He was the third most voted deputy in São Paulo during the 2022 election. He received over 741,000 votes, behind Guilherme Boulos and Carla Zambelli.
When Eduardo left office in March, an alternate deputy took his place. José Olímpio Silveira Moraes, also from São Paulo and the same political party, was sworn in on March 21. He has a law degree from the Faculty of Law of Itapetininga and is closely linked to the World Church of the Power of God.
On his social media accounts, Olímpio often posts messages supporting family and Christian values. He has stated that if he becomes the full-time deputy, he will continue the work of Eduardo Bolsonaro. He said their political goals are aligned, and he has close ties with the Bolsonaro family.
“We must keep the work going,” Olímpio said when asked if he would take over the role permanently.
In a recent interview, Eduardo Bolsonaro stated that he does not feel safe returning to Brazil. “I don’t see any reason to come back just to be arrested,” he said.
Supporters of the deputy have echoed his concerns. They believe the current political climate in Brazil is not safe for his return. Last week, a Supreme Court judge issued an order preventing Eduardo from communicating with others under investigation. His father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, said that his son’s return would almost certainly lead to arrest.
“If he comes back, he will be arrested,” the former president said.
The former president also suggested that his son may seek U.S. citizenship. He highlighted Eduardo’s language skills and political connections. “He is smart, speaks English and Spanish, even some Arabic. He has good ties with the U.S. government,” he said. “He will likely become an American citizen and won’t return while the risk of arrest remains.”
The coming days will determine the future of Eduardo Bolsonaro’s role in Brazilian politics. If he fails to return to the Chamber of Deputies, he could lose his position due to excessive absence. According to the rules, deputies cannot miss more than one-third of the sessions without an approved reason.
His political career now hangs in the balance. Whether he returns to Brazil or stays in the U.S., his decision will have lasting effects. For now, Eduardo Bolsonaro remains in the United States, with no confirmed plans to return home.
