Bolsonaro is a man without strength

Bolsonaro is the only convicted head of a criminal organization who is allowed to have visits at home before knowing where he will serve his 27-year prison sentence. This is a schedule authorized by the courts, which includes visits from people with pending legal issues.

Right after the arrest warrant was issued on August 4th, and even after the conviction on September 11th, the itinerary of Bolsonaro's visitors was highlighted in front-page headlines of online newspapers.

The coming and going satisfied the curiosity of those who wanted to know who still listened to Bolsonaro. And so it went until now, with Sóstenes Cavalcante, Tarcísio de Freitas, Damares Alves, Senator Astronauta, Ciro Nogueira, Valdemar Costa Neto, deputies, his sons, and his lawyers.

But today nobody knows who visits Bolsonaro, because the agenda isn't as publicized and the figures have become repetitive. And because Bolsonaro has little or nothing to say to confused, divided, and depressed visitors.

This scenario shakes the speculations, sustained only by the inertia of certain journalists, that Bolsonaro's inspiration, respect, and speeches, plus his blessing of a candidate, would still have relevance for the electoral strength of the right.

It's possible that Bolsonaro already knows what his inner circle and part of the misguided media are trying to hide: that he no longer means much to anyone.

Bolsonaro no longer has the same authority over his followers. Not because he is confined to his home, because Lula remained a leader during and after 580 days of imprisonment. But because Bolsonaro lacks the ability to transmit influence and power.

Bolsonaro is a sick man, but that's not the only reason he appears fragile. At a time when he faces an unfavorable situation, after losing the election, failing as a coup plotter, and being convicted, Bolsonaro reveals himself to be someone without the tools to react.

He never had a group of friends, never led political maneuvers as a member of parliament, never had any real influence as a voice in Congress, yet he was still elected president. He didn't learn much. 

Now in a difficult situation, Bolsonaro is challenged to be a politician capable of preserving what he would have achieved as a fascist leader who ruled at least half the country. And that he doesn't have.

Bolsonaro has lost his social base, as polls show, because he is unable to politically rebuild himself as a reference point for the entire right wing, not just for Bolsonaro supporters. Bolsonaro is a man without strength.

It's possible that his pronouncement, when he decides to appoint his chosen successor—some time is unknown—will have some effect. But today Bolsonaro is much more of a nuisance that Valdemar, Kassab, and Ciro Nogueira still don't know how to get rid of.

The effort to sell the idea that Bolsonaro would be a candidate until the end, because the unpredictable and the amnesty would find a way to save him, his family, the military, and the fools, was short-lived.

If Valdemar visits Bolsonaro today, the agenda will likely be kept much more secret than publicized. The head of the PL party can't and doesn't want to do anything more for Bolsonaro. Few are making an effort to save him, while Eduardo pretends that his father is his priority.

It is now known that Caiado requested a visit. A visit to Bolsonaro today would only be useful if Caiado were there to hear his side of the story regarding Palmeiras' situation after their defeat to Flamengo.