The decision of Minister Alexandre de Moraes of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) of decreeing the house arrest of former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) generated strong repercussion on social networks. A survey made by the Quaest Institute revealed that users’ opinion is divided, with 53% of posts supporting the measure and 47% positioning against.
The analysis monitored about 1.2 million mentions about the former president on platforms X, Instagram, Facebook, Reddit and Youtube until 9 pm last Monday (4). The polarization was evident: while governors celebrated Moraes’ decision, opponents raised accusations of abuse of authority and political persecution.
According to Quaest, left -aligned users presented a more dispersed reaction without a centered leadership or narrative. Bolsonarist profiles, on the other hand, organized themselves rapidly around the idea that Bolsonaro is being the target of unjust retaliation by the judiciary.
Among the terms most used by the decision supporters were “big day” and “bolsonaro arrested.” Already the contrary to house arrest highlighted expressions such as “revenge” and “abuse of power”. The Bolsonarist digital mobilization also concentrated attacks on Minister Alexandre de Moraes.
Bolsonaro’s house arrest was determined in the context of an investigation into alleged attacks on national sovereignty, also involving Deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP). Moraes justified the measure based on the “repeated non-compliance with precautionary measures” by the former president.
According to the STF’s determination, Bolsonaro cannot receive visits except those of his lawyers, and can only keep in touch with people previously authorized by the Supreme. The measure also reverberated among parliamentarians, with manifestations of opposition members and the ruling base.
