The Italian court has once again opened the door to extraditing former Brazilian congresswoman Carla Zambelli, this time over a weapons charge stemming from a 2022 election-day confrontation in São Paulo.
On Thursday, April 16, 2026, Rome’s Court of Appeal issued a new ruling supporting Zambelli’s extradition to Brazil, this time related to her conviction for illegal possession of a firearm. The decision follows a separate ruling from March 26 that approved her extradition in a case tied to the hacking of Brazil’s National Justice Council system.
Zambelli was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for brandishing a gun and chasing a man through São Paulo streets the day before the 2022 presidential runoff, after a political argument. She claims the prosecution was politically motivated and has filed appeals against both extradition rulings.
Key details at a glanceAlthough Zambelli holds Italian citizenship and argued she could not be deported, Italian courts have rejected that claim, noting her status does not shield her from extradition under the 1993 bilateral treaty between Brazil and Italy. She fled Brazil in June 2025 after her convictions, first going to the United States before entering Italy, where she was arrested in July.
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>The extradition request was formally signed by Supreme Court Minister Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees both cases against her. While the judicial decisions favor extradition, the final authority rests with Italy’s Minister of Justice, Carlo Nordio, who must weigh the legal submissions before approving or denying her transfer.
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>Zambelli’s defense submitted an appeal on April 10 challenging the March ruling related to the Justice Council hack, but that appeal has not yet been reviewed. A similar challenge is expected against the latest weapons-related decision.
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>Why has Zambelli been fighting extradition despite facing prison time in Brazil?
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>She maintains the charges are politically motivated and has used her Italian citizenship to argue against deportation, though Italian courts have ruled that citizenship does not prevent extradition under existing treaties.
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>What happens next in the extradition process?
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>Even if the court rulings become final, Italy’s Justice Minister must approve the extradition, and Zambelli retains the right to appeal both decisions before any transfer can occur.
On Thursday, April 16, 2026, Rome’s Court of Appeal issued a new ruling supporting Zambelli’s extradition to Brazil, this time related to her conviction for illegal possession of a firearm. The decision follows a separate ruling from March 26 that approved her extradition in a case tied to the hacking of Brazil’s National Justice Council system.
Zambelli was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for brandishing a gun and chasing a man through São Paulo streets the day before the 2022 presidential runoff, after a political argument. She claims the prosecution was politically motivated and has filed appeals against both extradition rulings.
Key details at a glanceAlthough Zambelli holds Italian citizenship and argued she could not be deported, Italian courts have rejected that claim, noting her status does not shield her from extradition under the 1993 bilateral treaty between Brazil and Italy. She fled Brazil in June 2025 after her convictions, first going to the United States before entering Italy, where she was arrested in July.
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>The extradition request was formally signed by Supreme Court Minister Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees both cases against her. While the judicial decisions favor extradition, the final authority rests with Italy’s Minister of Justice, Carlo Nordio, who must weigh the legal submissions before approving or denying her transfer.
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>Zambelli’s defense submitted an appeal on April 10 challenging the March ruling related to the Justice Council hack, but that appeal has not yet been reviewed. A similar challenge is expected against the latest weapons-related decision.
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>Why has Zambelli been fighting extradition despite facing prison time in Brazil?
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>She maintains the charges are politically motivated and has used her Italian citizenship to argue against deportation, though Italian courts have ruled that citizenship does not prevent extradition under existing treaties.
/wp:paragraph> wp:paragraph>What happens next in the extradition process?
/wp:heading> wp:paragraph>Even if the court rulings become final, Italy’s Justice Minister must approve the extradition, and Zambelli retains the right to appeal both decisions before any transfer can occur.
/wp:paragraph> /wp:paragraph –>Worth a look