Bolsonaro’s government ignored repeated pleas to sign additional vaccine contracts. He publicly questioned the reliability of shots and mocked contract terms, once suggesting Pfizer recipients would have no legal recourse if they “turned into alligators.” Brazil faced vaccine shortages and doses were released in phases by age and health risk.

Brazil's federal police on Saturday arrested former President Jair Bolsonaro over suspicion he was plotting to escape and avoid starting a 27-year prison sentence for leading a coup attempt.

In September, Brazil ’s Supreme Court convicted Bolsonaro, 70, who led the country from 2019 to 2022, of attempting a coupe to stay in power after his election loss. He was sentenced to 27 years and has been on house arrest with an ankle monitor since August.

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro was taken into preventive custody in the early hours of Saturday following an order issued by the Federal Supreme Court, authorities confirmed.

Brazil's former president was moved from house arrest to police detention after the Supreme Court said he tried to break his ankle monitor and flee amid a growing vigil outside his home.