Bolsonaro at the Hungarian embassy: how the international press reported the former president’s stay

Vehicles from various parts of the world published information released first-hand by the American newspaper The New York Times on Monday afternoon (25/3).

The reports draw attention to the ties between the former Brazilian president and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who are classified as two of the main exponents of the radical right in the world.

According to the New York Times publication, Bolsonaro’s stay at the embassy was due to an “apparent attempt to request political asylum.”

Bolsonaro denies this version. In a note released by his lawyers, he states that he was staying “by invitation” and “spoke with numerous authorities from the friendly country updating the political scenarios of the two nations”.

“Any other interpretations that go beyond the information provided here constitute an obvious fictional work, unrelated to the reality of the facts”, adds the text.

Check out below how the international press reacted to Bolsonaro’s stay at the Hungarian embassy.

The New York Times, which obtained access to security images proving the former Brazilian president’s visit to the embassy, ​​highlighted in its report that “the stay indicates that Bolsonaro was trying to take advantage of his friendship with a fellow leader of the radical right, the first Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary in an attempt to escape the Brazilian justice system while facing criminal investigations in Brazil.”

The report also highlights that Bolsonaro and Orbán have maintained a close relationship for years, “finding common ground as two of the radical right leaders in democratic nations.”

The text recalls that Bolsonaro has already called Orbán “brother”. Shortly afterwards, Orban returned the favor by classifying Bolsonaro as a “hero”.

Finally, the New York Times recalls that Bolsonaro said in March that he is not afraid of being arrested. “I could very well be in another country, but I decided to come back here despite all the costs,” the former president spoke at an event weeks ago.

The report points out that “some of Bolsonaro’s political rivals took advantage of Monday’s news to call for his arrest, claiming that the former president is once again signaling possible escape plans.”

“A Federal Police source confirmed to the Associated Press that the investigation is taking place in reaction to a report by The New York Times”, points out the Washington Post.

El País, from Spain, recalled that the stay at the Hungarian embassy took place “four days after the court removed Bolsonaro’s passport as a precautionary measure while he is investigated for allegedly staging a coup d’état with active and reserve military personnel “.

The publication adds that Itamaraty summoned the Hungarian ambassador for clarification.

El País assesses that “the judicial siege around Bolsonaro has not stopped tightening since he lost the elections and power.”

“He faces several investigations. The most serious, that of preparing a coup d’état to prevent his arch-rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, from taking power after the elections. Another, for keeping some jewelry as a gift from the Saudi royal family. And a third for falsifying the vaccination card. In none of the three has he been formally charged so far.”

Bloomberg reported the speech of Paulo Gonet, the Attorney General of the Republic. During an event at the National Congress on Monday (25/3), he asked for “patience” to analyze the latest events.

In the United Kingdom, The Guardian newspaper noted that Hungary’s embassy is “a short drive from the presidential palace once occupied by Bolsonaro.”

The Guardian reports that, on February 8, the day Bolsonaro’s passports were confiscated during a Federal Police operation, the Hungarian Prime Minister posted on X (the old Twitter) a photograph of himself shaking hands with Bolsonaro .

“An honest patriot. Keep fighting, Mr. President!” Orbán wrote on social media.

“Bolsonaro did not make it clear why he decided to visit the embassy. However, he publicly expressed fears that he would suffer the same fate as former Bolivian president Jeanine Áñez. In 2022, Áñez was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of helping orchestrate an alleged 2019 coup d’état that brought her to power after the fall of President Evo Morales,” the British newspaper wrote.

“Before his electoral defeat, Bolsonaro said he saw only three possible futures for him: prison, death or victory. The New York Times video suggests that a fourth alternative may now be considered: a new life as a tenant at the Hungarian embassy, ​​where , under international law, could not be arrested.”