a bigger job
Bolsonaro’s influence in Brazil slipped from the spotlight as his time in office faded. Arthur Lira, who leads the Chamber of Deputies and once found himself reluctantly aligned with the retired captain, suggested that the former president’s power would not recover its previous size. Three months after leaving the presidency and settling in the United States, Bolsonaro faced a string of controversies that drew scrutiny from Brazilian authorities. The Federal Audit Office stepped in, and in the days that followed a series of jewelry items traced to the Swiss brand Chopard appeared in the national conversation after crossing into the country without clear documentation.
Bolsonaro defended himself, stating that he neither accepted nor desired the stated gifts. He later explained that the jewelry in question had been given to his wife, Michelle, a defense he offered amid growing suspicions.
Investigative reporting by a major São Paulo daily revealed the sequence of events. During a 2021 inspection at Guarulhos International Airport near Sao Paulo, a backpack carried by an adviser to the then Minister of Mines and Energy contained a necklace valued at several million dollars, along with a ring, a watch and earrings. The pieces were reportedly gifted by a royal family in the Middle East. A firearm also appeared in the airport records, and customs officials repeatedly noted that Bolsonaro’s aide did not manage to clear the items through customs in a timely manner.
The former captain himself acknowledged that the matter triggered a formal audit of all gifts received during his administration. An official later confirmed that the incident involved jewelry curated for the presidency by a diplomat in the line of presidential gifts. It soon became evident that another set of jewelry, with a substantially lower value, had slipped past customs unnoticed. Bolsonaro indicated through his legal representatives that he would transfer the items in question to a Brazilian auditing body for review.
Brazilian law restricts public officials to keeping only gifts that are extremely personal and of minimal monetary value. In many cases the value of gifts to presidents in Brazil and elsewhere is far lower than what was reported in this episode. For comparison, gifted items to U.S. officials have historically totaled well over two hundred thousand dollars in a given year, a figure cited by Brazilian observers to illustrate the scale of the discrepancy.
Critics in the political sphere questioned the integrity of the gift process and its implications for Brazil’s governance and foreign relations. A prominent member of the government faction blamed a lack of credible documentation and questioned whether the gifts were used to influence policy or secure favorable terms in international dealings. The controversy prompted a broader discussion about the accountability mechanisms that govern presidential gifts and the transparency required for state transactions.
A Senate committee opened an inquiry into the matter, signaling a closer look at the chain of custody and the motives surrounding the gifts. The investigation touched on broader issues, including a rumored privatization move involving a Brazilian refinery and a fund linked to a Middle Eastern investor. Observers noted that the value of the gifts under scrutiny appeared inconsistent with typical ceremonial presents and raised questions about the nature of the arrangements behind such transfers. The unfolding narrative highlighted the delicate balance between ceremonial diplomacy and official ethics in the running of a modern republic. Critics suggested that the episode underscored tensions between Brazil and several regional and international partners, as well as the administrative friction tied to managing royal gifts and high-stakes diplomacy. The ongoing discussions left policymakers weighing how to tighten guidelines that govern gifts while protecting diplomatic relations with foreign governments. The overall takeaway is that the case spotlights the need for clear protocols and robust oversight when public officials receive valuable items from international entities.