Brazil’s lower house took the decision on Thursday (December 18, 2025) to remove lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro from his seat due to his absence in more than one-third of deliberative sessions throughout the year. Eduardo, one of the sons of former President Bolsonaro, had left Brazil in February to seek international support, particularly from the Trump administration, for his father’s political stance.

According to Brazilian law, lawmakers who are absent from at least one-third of the year’s deliberative sessions are required to forfeit their seat. The decision to remove Eduardo Bolsonaro from his position comes amid a complex political scenario in Brazil, with his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, facing legal consequences for actions taken after losing the 2022 election.

Following actions taken by U.S. President Donald Trump against Brazilian goods and authorities, including tariffs and sanctions, due to what he referred to as a ‘witch hunt’ against Bolsonaro, tensions between the two countries reached a peak. However, recent weeks have seen a shift in Trump’s stance, with tariffs and sanctions being gradually lifted after discussions with Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Eduardo Bolsonaro himself faced legal challenges, as Brazil’s federal police charged him with coercion related to attempts to influence sanctions and pressure the country’s Supreme Court while in the United States. The political landscape remains turbulent, with the removal of Eduardo Bolsonaro from his seat being just one part of the ongoing complexities within Brazilian politics.