key points
- Thousands of Mr Bolsonaro's supporters vandalised the Supreme Court, Congress and presidential palace last weekend.
- Mr Bolsonaro left Brazil for the United States on the eve of the end of his term.
- The Supreme Court had already ordered the arrest of his former justice minister.
Brazil's Supreme Court has agreed to open an investigation into former President Jair Bolsonaro for allegedly encouraging anti-democratic protests that ended in the storming of government buildings by his supporters in Brasilia.
"Public figures who continue to cowardly conspire against democracy trying to establish a state of exception will be held accountable," said Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who agreed to the request by federal prosecutors to launch the probe.
Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who refused to accept his election defeat, gathered at Congress in Brasilia on 8 January 2023. Source: AAP / AP
The Supreme Court had already ordered the arrest of Mr Bolsonaro's former justice minister, Anderson Torres, for allowing the protests to take place in the Brazilian capital after he assumed responsibility for Brasilia's public security.
Thousands of Mr Bolsonaro's supporters vandalised the Supreme Court, Congress and presidential palace last weekend, seeking to provoke chaos and a military coup that would oust President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and restore the far-right leader to power
Having lost Brazil's October election to Mr Lula, Mr Bolsonaro left Brazil for the United States on the eve of the end of his term, avoiding passing the presidential sash to his leftist rival at his inauguration.
Mr Torres, who like Mr Bolsonaro is in Florida, has said he plans to return to Brazil to turn himself in. Mr Bolsonaro said on social media he would move forward his return to Brazil.
Justice Minister Flavio Dino told a news conference he would wait until next week to re-evaluate Mr Torres' case, indicating that an effort to request his extradition could happen if the former minister does not turn himself in.
The arrest warrant against Mr Torres was issued by Mr de Moraes, who removed Brasilia's security chief from his post just hours after the rampage.
On Thursday, police found a draft decree in Mr Torres' house that appeared to be a proposal to interfere in the result of the election.
Police officers investigated the scene at the Supreme Court in Brasilia, on 10 January 2023. Source: AAP / AP
Mr Dino said he has made no requests to the United States regarding Mr Bolsonaro.
Mr Bolsonaro faces several investigations for anti-democratic statements he made as president, including repeated claims that the election system was open to fraud.
