Brazil. Bolsonaro, 'raised over 17 million reals in my support'

Supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil have raised over 17 million reals (about 2.3 million euros) to support the ultra-conservative leader. Bolsonaro himself announced it at an event organized by the women of the Liberal Party, which he attended with his wife Michelle, in Santa Caterina, in the south of the country, over the weekend. As explained by the former head of state, "more than a million people contributed to the collection". And the money "is enough" to pay off all the fines received.

The Brazilian Prosecutor's Office has decided to monitor the online profiles of Jair Bolsonaro's supporters,… but the initiative - described by the former right-wing president as a "campaign of ideological persecution" - was short-lived due to a wave of protests and was withdrawn. It all started with the deputy attorney general, Frederico Santos, who had decided to ask the Supreme Court (Stf) that network operators be obliged to send all of Bolsonaro's posts regarding last year's elections to the armed forces, together with the names of nearly 70 million 'followers' of the opposition leader. The deputy prosecutor's request is part of an "ideological patrol" plan which is a cause of "great concern", Bolsonaro's lawyers commented. "Trying to identify millions of followers of the former president, the subliminal message sent to this large audience is that their option to follow him on social media could be refuted," they added. Following the controversy, the public prosecutor's office issued a note stating that internet users will not be monitored.