Volkswacht Bodensee - Flavio Bolsonaro visits father under house arrest ahead of Brazil runoff

The conservative senator received authorization from the Supreme Court on Monday to visit the former president (2019-2022), convicted of staging a coup, as long as he does not involve him in campaigning.

The younger Bolsonaro arrived in a convoy at his father's residence in Brasilia, where he is serving his 27-year sentence, AFP journalists at the scene confirmed.

The 45-year-old senator will face leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a runoff on October 25 after obtaining 47 percent of the vote in the first round compared to Lula's 45 percent.

Jair Bolsonaro, 71, is still considered the leader of his far-right political movement. His image is always front and center at rallies staged by his son, who promises to overturn his father's conviction if elected.

The younger Bolsonaro had been prohibited from visiting his father since July after reading out a letter from his father on YouTube, despite Jair Bolsonaro being banned from using social media, either directly or through a third party.

Jair Bolsonaro is serving his sentence under house arrest for health reasons stemming from a stab wound he suffered in 2018 during the campaign in which he was elected president.

He was convicted of plotting a coup attempt after losing the 2022 presidential election to Lula.

R.Kloeti--VB