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Christmas 2025 ends an initial three-year cycle for Bolsonarism. If in other times borders were seen as shields, this closing of the year consolidated a “domino effect”. What we see now is the end of foreign hospitality, international prison cells and a desperate movement for political survival that tries to jump over the bars.
The image that defines the week is that of Silvinei Vasques. The former director of the PRF, sentenced to more than 24 years for an attempted coup and for using the police structure to interfere in the 2022 elections, starred in the most talked about escape of the season. In the early hours of December 25, he broke the electronic ankle bracelet and crossed the Paraguayan border, trying to reach El Salvador. The adventure ended at Asunción Airport on December 26th; detained with false documents, Silvinei was handed over to the Brazilian authorities and is now in the Papuda Complex.
In Rome, the situation of Carla Zambelli reached the peak of tension. Sentenced to 10 years for the invasion of the Judiciary systems — where she forged an arrest warrant against Alexandre de Moraes —, the deputy lives in severe isolation in the women’s prison. Reports confirmed by her defense indicate that Zambelli was the victim of physical attacks by other inmates on at least two occasions. The hostile climate forced the request for cell transfer due to risk to physical integrity. In Brazil, Zambelli resigned from her position last Friday (26) to try to preserve her political rights, although she remains in prison awaiting the extradition process.
In the United States, the climate is one of uncertainty for “Miami residents”. Alexandre Ramagemformer director of Abin, is officially a fugitive, sentenced to 16 years for the coup plot. The coup de grace came on December 19, when the Chamber canceled the diplomatic passports of Ramagem and Eduardo Bolsonaro. Eduardo, who lost his mandate due to excessive absences while working in politics in the USA, now finds himself without immunity and without official documents. Without the “shield of Brasília”, both depend on the good will of the American justice system to avoid being deported.
In the midst of this legal turmoil, politics is trying to reorganize itself. On December 25, a letter from Jair Bolsonaro — handwritten and read by his son in front of the hospital where the former president (currently imprisoned) underwent surgery — made official Flavio Bolsonaro as his political heir for 2026. The movement tries to maintain control of the political estate, but comes up against the stance of Tarcísio de Freitas. The governor of São Paulo sent his most recent message: he declared himself “faithful, but not submissive”, signaling that the presidential candidate’s costume is ready, with or without the exclusive approval of the Bolsonaro clan.
The year ends with Brazilian justice proving that geographic distance is just a postponement of the inevitable. The siege has closed, and the right-wing map for 2026 begins to be drawn not only in Brasília, but also in prison visiting rooms.
