The Executive Board of Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies stripped right-wing lawmakers Eduardo Bolsonaro and Alexandre Ramagem of their parliamentary mandates on Thursday (18). The effects of the decision differ: while Eduardo Bolsonaro retains his political rights, Ramagem loses his eligibility for a period to be determined by the courts.
The decisions were based on excessive absences from parliamentary sessions following both lawmakers’ departure from the country. Eduardo Bolsonaro has been self-exiled in the United States since the beginning of the year, while Alexandre Ramagem fled to the same country in September after being convicted by Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF).
Members of the Executive Board voted after the presentation of two reports recommending the removals, issued by the Chamber’s first secretary, Representative Carlos Veras. The deadline for the lawmakers to submit their defenses had expired the day before.
With the decision, Chamber President Hugo Motta sought to avoid the political fallout experienced in the case of Representative Carla Zambelli, in which a motion to strip her mandate was submitted to the full chamber, which ultimately voted to keep her in office despite an adverse ruling by the STF.
Political rights
Although both lawmakers were stripped of their mandates, they will face different consequences. Eduardo Bolsonaro’s removal was the result of an administrative decision by the Chamber, which sanctions parliamentary conduct but does not entail the suspension or loss of political rights. As a result, Eduardo remains eligible to run for office and may participate in the 2026 elections, provided he meets the legal requirements for candidate registration before the Electoral Court.
In Ramagem’s case, the loss of his mandate comes from a judicial conviction, carrying broader consequences. When the removal of a mandate results from a final criminal conviction, political rights are suspended, as provided for in Brazil’s Federal Constitution.
*With information from Agência Câmara
