Carla Zambelli: From Street Activist to Fugitive Lawmaker — The Rise and Fall of a Bolsonaro Loyalist

In a political landscape plagued by authoritarian nostalgia and institutional fragility, examining the criminal records of those in power is not just a public service — it’s a democratic necessity. We kick off our series “Dirty Dossiers” with a deep dive into the story of Carla Zambelli, a federal congresswoman from São Paulo and one of the most strident voices of Brazil’s far-right movement.

Zambelli symbolizes the paradox of Brazil’s “new politics” — a movement born out of anti-corruption rhetoric and moralistic outrage that has, ironically, produced some of the most anti-democratic figures in the country’s modern history.

From the Streets to the Chamber of Deputies

Carla Zambelli first gained public attention during the wave of protests calling for the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff in 2015–2016. As part of the grassroots group “Nas Ruas” (In the Streets), she positioned herself as a patriotic watchdog fighting against corruption.

By 2018, she rode the coattails of Jair Bolsonaro’s populist surge and was elected to Brazil’s lower house of Congress. She quickly became one of his most vocal allies, known for her aggressive anti-left rhetoric, attacks on the judiciary, and fervent defense of authoritarian policies.

🧑‍⚖️ Legal History and Convictions

1. Revocation of Mandate and Ineligibility

On January 30, 2025, the São Paulo Regional Electoral Court (TRE-SP) revoked Carla Zambelli’s mandate for abuse of political power and misuse of media during the 2022 elections. The decision, passed by a 5–2 vote, also rendered her ineligible for public office for eight years. The court concluded that Zambelli spread disinformation about the electoral process, including false claims of manipulated electronic voting machines in the city of Itapeva (SP), which compromised the fairness of the electoral competition.

2. Conviction for Illegal Firearm Possession and Unlawful Coercion

In March 2025, Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) reached a majority decision to convict Zambelli to 5 years and 3 months in prison for illegal possession of a firearm and unlawful coercion. The charges relate to an incident that occurred on the eve of the second round of the 2022 presidential elections, when the congresswoman drew a gun and chased a man through the streets of São Paulo. Although the trial was paused due to a request for review by Justice Kassio Nunes Marques, five justices have already voted in favor of conviction.

3. Investigation into Coup Attempt

Zambelli is also under investigation for her involvement in a coup attempt to keep former president Jair Bolsonaro in power. According to the Federal Police, she pressured the then-commander of the Brazilian Air Force, Lieutenant-Brigadier Carlos de Almeida Baptista Júnior, to support the coup plan. The officer refused and later reported being targeted by online attacks following the incident.

4. Flight and Arrest Warrant

In June 2025, already facing multiple convictions, Zambelli left Brazil for Italy, claiming she holds Italian citizenship and is therefore protected under Italian law. On the same day, the Office of the Attorney General requested her preventive arrest and her inclusion on Interpol’s red notice list. Her departure was widely interpreted as a planned escape, further deepening the institutional crisis her actions had already provoked.

What Zambelli Represents

Carla Zambelli is more than just a disgraced congresswoman. She embodies the reactionary spirit of Bolsonarismo — a political culture that weaponizes religion, fear, and disinformation to erode democratic norms and concentrate power. She is more than just a lawmaker in trouble. She represents the exhaustion of an era of political radicalization, where religious morality, anti-corruption rhetoric, and gun worship were used to mask authoritarian practices, violence, racism, disinformation, and attacks on democratic institutions.

Her current downfall isn’t just personal. It signals the unraveling of a broader political movement built on authoritarian ideals and a deeply cynical manipulation of Brazil’s democratic system.

If Brazil is serious about reclaiming its democratic future, it must ensure that Zambelli’s fate is not an exception — but the start of a long-overdue reckoning.