Brazil renews extradition request for Carla Zambelli over armed chase case

Brazil's government has submitted a new request to Italian authorities for the extradition of former congresswoman Carla Zambelli. This latest appeal concerns her conviction in the case where she drew and pointed a firearm at a man shortly before the 2022 presidential election runoff. Brazil is pursuing the extradition through Italy's Court of Cassation, the highest court, following Zambelli's conviction for illegal firearm possession and unlawful coercion.

The Brazilian Supreme Court finalized the case in August 2025. However, an Italian court denied Zambelli's extradition in May, citing concerns about the impartiality of Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The Italian judges pointed to Moraes' dual role as a member of the panel that judged Zambelli and as a victim in a case involving the alleged falsification of an arrest warrant against him, which also led to Zambelli's conviction.

The new submission to Italy was prepared by Brazil's Attorney General's Office, the National Secretariat of Justice, the Directorate for Asset Recovery and International Legal Cooperation, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The full document is confidential, as per the Attorney General's Office, and is being handled under a confidentiality agreement with Italian authorities.

In the firearm incident, Zambelli was sentenced to five years and three months in a semi-open regime, along with the forfeiture of her political mandate. The prosecution followed her actions on October 29, 2022, when she pursued a man through the streets of São Paulo after an argument, brandishing her weapon. A security guard accompanying her fired a shot during the incident. Zambelli fled to Italy in June 2025 and was declared a fugitive by Brazilian authorities.

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The firearm possession granted to the accused is for her personal defense, which is why the carrier cannot enter public places with the weapon, nor carry it ostentatiously, unless, obviously, it is necessary to ensure her own defense or that of third parties.