Italian judicial authorities have approved the extradition of Carla Zambelli, a prominent ally of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, to face criminal charges related to the January 8, 2023 insurrection attempt in Brasília.
The decision, reported by UOL Notícias, marks a significant development in Brazil's sprawling investigation into attempts to overthrow the democratically elected government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Zambelli, a former federal congresswoman, fled to Italy earlier this year after Brazilian authorities issued an arrest warrant.
In Brazil, as across Latin America's giant, continental scale creates both opportunity and governance challenges. The extradition proceedings underscore the international dimension of Brazil's reckoning with the January 8 attacks, when thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed the presidential palace, Supreme Court, and Congress buildings in Brasília.
Zambelli, who served as a federal deputy from São Paulo from 2019 to 2023, is accused of participating in the planning and incitement of the insurrection. Brazilian prosecutors allege she used her platform to spread disinformation about the 2022 election results and actively encouraged supporters to reject the democratic transition of power.
The Italian court's decision follows months of diplomatic negotiations between Brasília and Rome. Legal experts say the extradition sets an important precedent for accountability in cases involving attempts to subvert democratic institutions.
said , a constitutional law professor at the .
