AUTHORITIES braced for far-right clashes today as former president Jair Bolsonaro arrived back in Brazil after a three-month stay in Florida, seeking a new role on the political scene.

Mr Bolsonaro left Brazil just before the end of his presidential term. In so doing, he broke with tradition by declining to hand the presidential sash to successor Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva.

While in the US, Mr Bolsonaro mostly kept a low profile, although he delivered several speeches to Brazilian expats and conservatives, including at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Maryland.

For the first time in 30 years, the lawmaker-turned-president does not hold elected office.

“I’m without a mandate, but I’m not retired,” Mr Bolsonaro told television network Jovem Pan on Monday.

The Federal District’s security secretariat mobilised hundreds of police officers and the Esplanade of Ministries was closed to prevent gatherings of Mr Bolsonaro’s supporters.

On his return the ex-president will have to face over a dozen legal investigations including his role in the January 8 attempted coup by his supporters seeking to oust the new president from power.