Its former president Brazil, Jair Bolsonarois expected to return to Brazil on Thursday for the first time since leaving office to support the far right, facing the possibility of being banned from politics or even arrested.

Bolsonaro’s possible return from Florida is expected to complicate matters for his successor. Luis Inacio Lula da Silvaif the former president manages to mobilize the opposition.

After leaving Brazil, Bolsonaro has maintained his populist political style and now lives in Orlando, Florida, where he greets and hugs supporters in public.

Investigations against Bolsonaro

At the same time, however, several investigations are underway against the former Brazilian leader, including allegations of embezzlement of $3 million worth of jewelry, which was allegedly a gift from the Saudi government. At the same time, allegations of incitement to violence linked to the January 8 storming of Brazilian government buildings by Bolsonaro supporters are being investigated.

Bolsonaro told local media this week that he “has no mission, but he has not resigned”, adding that he is returning to his country to discuss his party’s strategy. He stated that Brazil was “entering a hole that would probably be difficult to climb out of.”

Both his friends and his enemies force him to return. His allies want him to tour the country to help the far right recover from its October election defeat.

His political opponents, on the other hand, want him to stand trial in a number of cases, including January’s violent incidents.

How much risk does Lula’s government take?

Analysts say Bolsonaro’s return is likely to shock Lula da Silva’s government, which has struggled to get its way in the first months of his rule.

Aside from some changes to welfare programs, Lula has yet to make progress on key policy proposals, due in part to congressional inaction. Now he faces the prospect of a revitalized far-right opposition that will challenge his agenda.

Bolsonaro faces several criminal investigations, including whether he provoked the January 8 uprising through his social media activity. Allegations of organized disinformation by his political group also came under scrutiny. He denies committing any crime.

Brazil’s justice minister recently told the Financial Times that he could not legally claim that Bolsonaro was responsible for the January 8 events. But he added that: “In any case, they were inspired by Bolsonaro.”

^{Source: Financial Times.}