Tom Fischermann

International Economy for @DIEZEIT. Books for C.H.Beck and Heyne. #Hamburg, #SouthEastAsia, #Pacific. Sometimes in #Rio. Special interest: the Rainforest

[Tom Fischermann @Strandreporter]

Der Strandreporter ist umgezogen – willkommen in der Pacific Edition! Auf X poste ich nur sporadisch, bis Elon wieder weg ist. Bin außerdem drüben auf Bluesky (@strandreporter.bsky.social) und häufiger noch auf Instagram (@strandreporter)

[Rasmus Jarlov @RasmusJarlov]

Although people all over the world are happy to see Trump and MAGA becoming unpopular in the USA, the reason behind it is far less encouraging.

Trump could support Putin and Russia all he wanted. He could continue to let Ukrainians get slaughtered, treat Canada like shit, threaten Denmark with war, steal from Venezuela to line his own pockets, support Israel's brutality, and insult allies day after day. The American public doesn't support these things, but they don't seem to care very much about them either.

The only reason people are now turning against Trump is because — of all unimportant things — gas has become a little bit more expensive in in a country wealthier than any other in world history. THAT is what infuriates the average voter and makes them turn against Trump

The rest of the world is lucky that this is happening, as it weakens Trump. But that doesn't mean we should assume that the USA will act morally on the world stage in the future. Deep down, they simply don't care very much.

[Oliver Stuenkel 🇧🇷 @OliverStuenkel]

U.S. Embassy in Brasília Highlighted Lula's 'Definitive' Victory in Report

U.S. diplomatic mission says extension of voting hours had minimal impact https://t.co/7Lyttp0s02

[DIE ZEIT @zeitonline]

Nach Flávio Bolsonaros Flucht erklärt die halbe Welt Brasilien die Demokratie. Linke und Rechte sind sich erstaunlich einig. Das sagt mehr über sie als über das Land. https://t.co/0Mggzdxoq6

[DIE ZEIT @zeitonline]

Kriminelle haben die Kryptobörse Binance gehackt und 6,3 Milliarden Dollar entwendet. Wie es dazu kam – und was Betroffene jetzt tun können. https://t.co/wDGzczEdAf

[Tom Fischermann @Strandreporter]

Brasiliens Rechte, die die Bolsonaros fallen lässt, continued.

[Andrew Fishman @AndrewDFish]

"Even Silas Malafaia, a pugnacious televangelist who is close to Bolsonaro’s jailed father, Jair Bolsonaro, had harsh words. 'Bolsonaro’s kids are jackasses … A bunch of amateur morons,' Malafaia was quoted as saying by O Globo."

[Tom Fischermann @Strandreporter]

"Internet-Kolonialismus mit der Bürde des Blauen Häkchens": Warum wird über die Wahl in #Brasilien bloß so viel Quatsch in den sozialen Netzwerken verbreitet? Den Leuten in 🇧🇷 braucht niemand ihre Demokratie zu erklären. Kleine Debattenkritik in der ZEIT https://t.co/XpQetIKDWf

[BRASILWIRE @BRASILWIRE]

Presidential loser Flávio Bolsonaro’s ChatGPT generated “Miami declaration” has today been branded “pathetic” by Brazilian media, and he has lost his entire support base, including political allies, coalition parties, evangelical church leaders, and so on.

Bolsonarismo is over.

[Thiago Süssekind @ThiagoSussekind]

Reading posts by foreigners about Brazil, I get the impression that you're not aware of the full extent of the accusations against Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, or of the available evidence of his corruption.

So I'd like to kindly invite you to really get to know Flávio. A thread 🧵🇧🇷

[Tom Fischermann @Strandreporter]

… besonders streng und proaktiv auf diese Leute, ihre Tricks, Ermächtigungserklärungen, Exilregierungspläne zu schauen. Sie schützen ihre Demokratie. Das alles überlagert sich hier. Ist schwierig, schafft Dilemmata und entzieht 🇧🇷 all den vereinfachten Schlussfolgerungen.

[Tom Fischermann @Strandreporter]

Egal, wie sehr man sich auch bemüht, das ausgewogen darzustellen (hier @yanisvaroufakis): Die Realitäten in 🇧🇷 sind immer noch ein bisschen komplexer. Die Tendenz zur Verfolgung per Lawfare in Brasilien und ganz Lateinamerika ist echt und besorgniserregend, check. Umgekehrt…

[Yanis Varoufakis @yanisvaroufakis]

I am going to write something below that should be seen as the musings of one who celebrated – and still celebrates – Lula’s victory over Bolsonaro Jr. Here it goes:

I cannot for the life of me justify why o why Brazil’s courts had to demand of Bolsonaro that he hands over his passport the moment he lost the election. That he disputed the veracity of the election result is a sign of a faulty character, evidence that he is a bad loser. BUT, he had every right to being a bad loser; to dispute, rightly or wrongly, any result.

As for the argument that he was being investigated for other misdemeanours or crimes, that doesn’t wash either: What would have happened if Bolsonaro had won the election? Would the judges also prevent him from travelling abroad, as President-elect? I very much doubt that – which means that the judges were conflating executive and judicial powers.

To those who tell me that the Bolsonaro clan is a fascistic, criminal family, my reply is: You and I may very well think that. Alas, the judiciary has no right to use its powers to indict and to pursue someone because – or immediately after – they lost an election. It is shameful, to be precise. And it is also dangerous for those of us on the left who know what it means to be banned and hounded by rogue judges and police commissioners.

But I also have a message to Bolsonaro supporters, or those sitting on the fence, who assume that Lula is somehow behind the judges. He is not! This is the same court that imprisoned, falsely, Lula himself. What we have in Brazil is a judiciary that overreaches and habitually crosses the line that ought to separate judicial from political power.
It is such a shame that a judge took it upon himself to go after Bolsonaro on the eve of his defeat and, in doing so, to sully Lula’s stupendous victory.
One last point that my comrades in Brazil should note: If Bolsonaro and Rubio wanted to mount a campaign against Lula and Brazilian democracy they could never have been aided better than by that judge’s reckless writ.

[Tom Fischermann @Strandreporter]

… er ist manchmal wohlfeil, wenn zugleich die legale Wahlkampffinanzierung sehr schwer gemacht wird. Die lange Erfahrung wiederum mit Putschen und Putschversuchen in Brasilien, zuletzt durch Vater-Bolsonaro selbst, zwingt Polizei + Richter + auch den rechtmäßigen Präsidenten …

[Brian Winter @BrazilBrian]

It is very hard to tell simple stories about Brazil.

[Tom Fischermann @Strandreporter]

Ich kann mir nur vorstellen, dass der Bolsonaro-Clan jetzt sehr schnell isoliert (und in sich gespalten) wird. Der Rest der 🇧🇷 Rechten, der nicht vor der Justiz irgendwohin geflohen ist, hat eine solide Mehrheit im Parlament und große Pläne. Die Bolsonaros stören hochgradig.

[Jack Nicas @jacknicas]

Flávio Bolsonaro declared himself Brazil’s true president-elect, and then quickly deleted it.

About an hour ago, his team issued a statement from him declaring himself the “president-elect” because he claimed the election was stolen.

Less than an hour later, after that caused a controversy, they reissued the statement and changed that term to “leader.”

Screenshots below.

[Vincent Bevins @Vinncent]

It has been pretty funny to watch thousands of people just say stuff about Brazil since Sunday. Just waiting for everyone to stop and forget everything they said

[Tom Fischermann @Strandreporter]

@fer46991 Sem investigação e sentença, n dá pra ter certeza.

[Tom Fischermann @Strandreporter]

Guter Überblick 👇🏻 Wovor Flavio Bolsonaro wirklich flieht.

Würde in 🇧🇷 immer gut auseinanderhalten, was echte mutmaßliche Vergehen sind und was „Lawfare“ ist, aber bei der Bolsonaro-Familie kommen schon enorm viele Ungereimtheiten zusammen.

[O Jornaleiro @ojornaleirobr]

AMERICANS, DO YOU KNOW WHO DONALD TRUMP IS WELCOMING INTO YOUR COUNTRY?

I am a Brazilian journalist, and I have been closely following the criminal investigations involving Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.

Reuters reported on October 27 that Flávio left Brazil for the United States after losing the presidential election, despite a Brazilian Supreme Court order requiring him to surrender his passports.

Now I have a question:

Will American taxpayers be forced to pay for the protection of a Brazilian politician facing serious criminal investigations?

Before anyone screams “political persecution,” here are the actual case numbers. You can look them up yourselves.

1. BANCO MASTER, DARK HORSE AND SUSPECTED MONEY LAUNDERING

Brazilian Supreme Court (STF)

Case: INQ 5,070

Full docket: 0181367-57.2026.1.00.0000

Related proceedings: PET 16,369 and INQ 5,026.

Federal investigators are examining suspected money laundering, corruption and illegal international financial transactions involving the financing of Dark Horse, a film about Jair Bolsonaro.

The investigation involves financial dealings with Daniel Vorcaro, the former controller of Banco Master.

2. SUSPECTED FINANCIAL LINKS TO THE PCC DRUG-TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION

Brazilian Superior Electoral Court (TSE)

Case: AIJE 0603371-06.2026.6.00.0000

Filed October 23, 2026.

This electoral lawsuit questions whether millions of dollars transferred through companies and investment funds linked to the Dark Horse financing network indirectly benefited Flávio Bolsonaro’s presidential campaign.

One company involved in the financial transactions was also identified in investigations concerning suspected money laundering connected to the PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital), one of Brazil’s largest criminal organizations.

The lawsuit seeks the annulment of Bolsonaro’s candidacy or election certification and an eight-year disqualification.

To be absolutely clear: the alleged connection between the money and the PCC is under investigation. It has not been judicially established that the PCC financed the film or his campaign.

3. WILLER TOMAZ AND ONLINE GAMBLING

A separate investigation before Brazil’s Supreme Court, overseen by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, examines suspected money laundering involving attorney Willer Tomaz, a close friend of Flávio Bolsonaro.

Investigators are examining financial transactions involving gambling companies, payment platforms and businesses connected to Tomaz.

The exact court docket number has not been publicly verified.

4. THE RACHADINHA CORRUPTION CASE

Rio de Janeiro State Court (TJ-RJ)

Case: 0072696-34.2020.8.19.0000

Prosecutors formally accused Flávio Bolsonaro of crimes including embezzlement, money laundering and participation in a criminal organization involving alleged diversion of public employees’ salaries.

The charges were dismissed in 2022 after evidence was ruled inadmissible.

There was no conviction, but there was also no trial determining whether the alleged conduct occurred.

5. RODRIGO BACELLAR AND COMANDO VERMELHO

Brazilian Supreme Court

Case: PET 14,959

Full docket: 0123047-48.2025.1.00.0000

Rodrigo Bacellar, a political ally of Flávio Bolsonaro, was arrested and later became a criminal defendant in proceedings concerning alleged obstruction of a police operation targeting Comando Vermelho, another major Brazilian drug-trafficking organization.

6. MÁRCIO CANELLA AND ORGANIZED CRIME

Electoral case: RO-El 0601451-66.2026.6.19.0000

Another political ally supported by Flávio Bolsonaro, Márcio Canella, was arrested during an investigation into suspected organized-crime-related money laundering involving fuel businesses.

Brazilian electoral prosecutors have also questioned his candidacy over alleged connections to militias and Comando Vermelho.

These are separate proceedings involving Bolsonaro’s allies, not criminal charges against Flávio himself. 🧵

[Tom Fischermann @Strandreporter]

@MiriamAssis9 They are self deporting right

[Tom Fischermann @Strandreporter]

@schadenfrohsinn Vermutlich. Vielleicht zusätzlich allgemein noch die eigenen Lebensentscheidungen überdacht.

[Clarín @clarincom]

LAS CINCO CAUSAS JUDICIALES QUE ACORRALAN A FLÁVIO BOLSONARO

Lectura rápida
Las investigaciones incluyen presunto lavado de dinero, corrupción, financiamiento ilegal de campaña y difamación. Según sus allegados, el senador viajó a Estados Unidos en medio del avance de las causas.

1. Lavado de dinero y apuestas
La Justicia investiga una presunta red de lavado de activos y evasión fiscal mediante plataformas de apuestas y cuentas en el exterior. Los investigadores detectaron registros de acceso a nombre de Bolsonaro en cuentas offshore de Alcazar Holdings, empresa vinculada al abogado Willer Tomaz. El juez Alexandre de Moraes evalúa levantar el secreto bancario y fiscal de las firmas involucradas.

2. Corrupción y evasión para una biopic política
La operación "Dark Horse" investiga el presunto origen ilícito de unos US$ 24 millones vinculados al exbanquero Daniel Vorcaro. El dinero habría sido utilizado para financiar una película sobre Jair Bolsonaro mediante un fondo inmobiliario estadounidense. Flávio sostiene que se trató de un "patrocinio privado legal".

3. Financiamiento ilegal de campaña
La Justicia analiza si la candidatura de Bolsonaro recibió fondos del grupo conservador estadounidense Rockbridge Network para financiar actividades electorales y campañas digitales contra Lula. El juez Flávio Dino ordenó investigar posibles aportes extranjeros, prohibidos por la legislación electoral brasileña, y publicidad no declarada en redes sociales.

4. Difamación contra Lula
Bolsonaro enfrenta una denuncia por publicaciones realizadas en enero de 2026, en las que vinculó al presidente brasileño con declaraciones de Nicolás Maduro. La acusación sostiene que difundió información falsa e injurias durante la campaña electoral. El expediente se encuentra en la etapa de presentación de argumentos de la defensa.

5. Retención ilegal de salarios
La causa conocida como "Rachadinhas", iniciada en 2020, investiga la presunta retención de parte de los salarios de empleados cuando Bolsonaro era diputado estadual en Río de Janeiro. Aunque su defensa consiguió anulaciones parciales por cuestiones procesales, los fiscales evalúan presentar nuevas denuncias basadas en investigaciones patrimoniales.

(+) en Clarín: https://t.co/lKDXungZye

[Tom Fischermann @Strandreporter]

@schieritz Bei jeder Wahl in 🇧🇷 so. Manche kleine Dörfer und besonders indigene Volksgruppen wählen einstimmig.