Supreme Court Blocks Bolsonaro’s Expulsion of Diplomats from Venezuelan Embassy

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Supreme Court (STF) Justice Luis Roberto Barroso suspended, on Saturday, May 2nd, President Jair Bolsonaro’s decision to expel officials from the Venezuelan Embassy in Brasília.

The decision also banned the expulsion of employees from Venezuelan consulates in Belém, Boa Vista, Manaus, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo.

The compulsory removal of the Venezuelan diplomats had been decided by President Bolsonaro and Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo. The Brazilian government had determined the departure of Nicolás Maduro’s diplomats by Saturday, May 2nd.

Venezuela refuses to comply with the decision, alleging “unnecessary pressure” from the Planalto Palace.

In early 2019, Bolsonaro recognized the “self-proclaimed presidency” of Juan Guaidó, president of the National Parliament, with a majority opposition, who had his prerogatives overturned by the Justice controlled by Maduro.

In his decision, Barroso granted an temporary restraining order at the request of federal Deputy Paulo Pimenta, considering that there may have been “violations of Brazilian constitutional norms, international human rights treaties and the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations”.

The order is valid for ten days, and Justice Barroso requested Bolsonaro and Foreign Minister Ernesto Araújo to provide information on the expulsion. According to the Justice, the decision was pressing due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In his assessment, the immediate removal order “violates basic humanitarian principles” because the members of the diplomatic staff “do not represent any imminent danger”.

Barroso’s decision marks yet another blow that the Supreme Court has inflicted on the Bolsonaro government.

In recent weeks, the President has become the target of an investigation opened by Justice Celso de Mello, has seen Alexandre Ramagem’s appointment to head the Federal Police suspended by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, and has been banned by Barroso from running any campaign against social distancing.

Augusto Aras, the Federal Prosecutor General, had recommended on Friday, May 1st, that the Minister of Foreign Affairs suspend the measure, in order to prevent physical and psychological risks to those involved.

Barroso was asked about the political pressures in the country and the prospect of Bolsonaro being the target of an impeachment process.

The Justice stated that, in a democracy, the way to deal with disappointment is through elections. “Impeachment is the last option,” he said. “The facts need to be serious, and proven.”