Brazil's Supreme Court to Rule on Bolsonaro's Coup Allegations

The Brazilian Supreme Court is deliberating on whether to put ex-President Jair Bolsonaro on trial for allegations of a coup plot against current President Lula da Silva.

Justices on Brazil's Supreme Court are currently evaluating whether to proceed with a trial against former President Jair Bolsonaro in connection with allegations of attempting to orchestrate a coup against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. A panel composed of five justices will assess the evidence provided by the chief prosecutor, who accuses Bolsonaro of spearheading efforts to undermine Lula's presidential inauguration following the latter's victory in the 2022 elections.

Bolsonaro, who is now 70, claims he is a target of "political persecution," asserting that the ongoing legal pressures are aimed at hindering his aspirations for a presidential bid in 2026. The court is expected to announce its decision later today on whether the presented evidence justifies a trial. Bolsonaro is currently barred from holding any public office until 2030 due to previous claims that Brazil's electoral system was subject to fraud, but he has expressed his intentions to challenge this prohibition.

Having served as president from January 2019 until December 2022, Bolsonaro has steadfastly refused to recognize the legitimacy of his electoral defeat to Lula in October 2022. Following the results, many of his supporters remained stationed outside military facilities, attempting to provoke military intervention to stop significantly scheduled events designed to usher Lula into power on January 1, 2023. Shortly after Lula's ascension, a riot materialized in Brasilia, where thousands of Bolsonaro's followers stormed government structures, leading to extensive vandalism and approximately 1,500 arrests.

An extensive federal police investigation has suggested the existence of a coordinated effort to support Bolsonaro's continued presidency. A sweeping 884-page report released in November 2024 raised alarming allegations, accusing Bolsonaro of being complicit in orchestrating efforts that constituted a coup d'état and threatened Brazil's democratic framework. The Attorney-General of Brazil, Paulo Gonet, has even proposed that Bolsonaro led a criminal organization intent on overthrowing Lula.

The Supreme Court panel must decide if sufficient evidence exists against Bolsonaro and seven others identified as his co-conspirators for charges to be formally brought. Bolsonaro continues to deny any involvement in wrongdoing, recently stating in a podcast that he remains "not at all worried about the accusations," secure in the representation of his legal team.