In a unanimous decision, Brazil's Supreme Court has ruled that former President Jair Bolsonaro will be tried for his alleged involvement in an attempted coup against the current president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The ruling came from a five-member panel of the court and could lead to a trial commencing later this year. If convicted, Bolsonaro, who is 70, faces several years in prison. Following the decision, Bolsonaro criticized the charges as "grave and baseless," asserting that they are politically motivated attacks aimed at inhibiting his potential bid for a return to the presidency in 2026.
Bolsonaro Faces Coup Charges as Brazil's Supreme Court Rules
Bolsonaro Faces Coup Charges as Brazil's Supreme Court Rules
Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil's former president, is set to stand trial for alleged coup attempts against Lula da Silva following a Supreme Court ruling.
The Supreme Court's panel was convened to assess whether there was sufficient evidence for a trial, with Chief Justice Alexandre de Moraes initiating the voting. He recommended that Bolsonaro, alongside seven other former officials considered co-conspirators by prosecutors, face trial for their roles in inciting unrest that culminated in the storming of government buildings in Brasília on January 8, 2023—just days after Lula's inauguration. Those accused include former high-ranking officials from Bolsonaro's administration.
Bolsonaro, an admirer of Donald Trump and a former army captain, governed Brazil from January 2019 until December 2022. He narrowly lost the presidential election to Lula in October 2022 and has yet to concede the defeat publicly. Supporters camped outside military barracks attempting to influence the military against Lula's inauguration. The January 8 insurrection saw thousands of Bolsonaro's supporters ransacking government buildings, resulting in 1,500 arrests, while Bolsonaro was reportedly in the United States.
An extensive federal investigation uncovered evidence of a coordinated effort aiming to keep Bolsonaro in power, leading to a detailed 884-page report alleging his direct involvement in actions to facilitate a coup. Prosecutors claim that Bolsonaro led a "criminal organization" seeking to undermine democratic rule, with plans that alarmingly included poisoning Lula and assassinating Chief Justice de Moraes. Despite facing a long political ban due to previous election fraud claims, Bolsonaro has expressed intentions to challenge his disqualification to return to politics. The Supreme Court’s latest ruling significantly complicates his aspirations for a comeback, setting a formidable obstacle in his path toward future electoral ambitions.
Bolsonaro, an admirer of Donald Trump and a former army captain, governed Brazil from January 2019 until December 2022. He narrowly lost the presidential election to Lula in October 2022 and has yet to concede the defeat publicly. Supporters camped outside military barracks attempting to influence the military against Lula's inauguration. The January 8 insurrection saw thousands of Bolsonaro's supporters ransacking government buildings, resulting in 1,500 arrests, while Bolsonaro was reportedly in the United States.
An extensive federal investigation uncovered evidence of a coordinated effort aiming to keep Bolsonaro in power, leading to a detailed 884-page report alleging his direct involvement in actions to facilitate a coup. Prosecutors claim that Bolsonaro led a "criminal organization" seeking to undermine democratic rule, with plans that alarmingly included poisoning Lula and assassinating Chief Justice de Moraes. Despite facing a long political ban due to previous election fraud claims, Bolsonaro has expressed intentions to challenge his disqualification to return to politics. The Supreme Court’s latest ruling significantly complicates his aspirations for a comeback, setting a formidable obstacle in his path toward future electoral ambitions.
