Is Flávio Bolsonaro a terrorist? Newspaper questions links to criminal groups

A Brazilian newspaper has raised serious questions about the potential links between Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, and terrorist organizations. The article, published by Folha de S.Paulo, explores whether Bolsonaro could be considered a terrorist himself, given his alleged associations with individuals connected to powerful criminal factions.

The report highlights Bolsonaro's alleged ties to Rodrigo Bacellar, described as the "chief of the political nucleus of Comando Vermelho," a major criminal organization. If the U.S. State Department's definition of terrorism is applied, this association could place Bolsonaro alongside a "terrorist leader." Furthermore, the article points to Bolsonaro's self-proclaimed "brotherhood" with Daniel Vorcaro, owner of Banco Master, which allegedly had close ties to Reag Investimentos, a company accused of laundering money for the PCC, another powerful criminal group.

Folha de S.Paulo argues that while Comando Vermelho and PCC operate with terror, their objectives differ from groups like Al Qaeda or the IRA, as they lack explicit political or ideological aims. However, the article posits that the most compelling argument for applying the U.S. State Department's new definition of terrorism stems from the "suspicious links" between these criminal groups and "Bolsonarismo." It cites the attempted bombing of Brasília airport on Christmas Eve 2022, carried out by a former advisor to a Bolsonaro-appointed minister, as an "undeniable terrorist act" in recent Brazilian history.

The publication suggests that Flávio Bolsonaro is the heir to the leadership of the movement behind the 2022 bombing attempt. While hesitating to label him a terrorist directly, the article calls for an investigation into whether he and other "Bolsonarista" leaders are "common criminals," akin to those in Comando Vermelho or PCC. The report also details significant financial irregularities, mentioning billions of reais allegedly siphoned from public funds and channeled to criminal networks through entities associated with the Bolsonaro government.