Brazil’s Supreme Court Deliberates on Coup Charges Against Jair Bolsonaro
Brazil’s Supreme Court has opened deliberations in the landmark trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro, accused of conspiring to stage a coup to remain in power after losing the 2022 election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, reports 24brussels.
A five-justice panel commenced voting on Tuesday and is expected to reach a verdict by the end of the week. On the first day, both Justice Alexandre de Moraes and Justice Flavio Dino voted to convict Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro, a 70-year-old former army officer, faces up to 43 years in prison if found guilty. Alongside him, seven co-defendants, which include former ministers and army generals, are facing similar charges. Accusations against them encompass forming an armed criminal organization, attempting to forcibly abolish democracy, plotting a coup d’état, and causing damage to government and cultural property. Bolsonaro has denied all charges.
In court, Justice Moraes asserted: “There is no doubt … there was an attempt to abolish the democratic rule of law, that there was an attempted coup, and that there was a criminal organization that caused damage to public property.” He referred to evidence of plans to assassinate Lula, particularly a document discovered at government headquarters.
This trial represents the first instance where a Brazilian head of state is facing coup charges, viewed by many as a test of democratic resilience four decades post-military rule. Protests erupted across several cities on Sunday, with Bolsonaro supporters labeling the trial a “disgrace” and expressing gratitude to former U.S. President Donald Trump for his intervention.
Currently, Bolsonaro is under house arrest in Brasília, with his legal representatives citing health issues stemming from a 2018 stabbing incident. His allies in Congress are advocating for an amnesty law that could potentially block his imprisonment. São Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas, an ally and prospective presidential candidate for 2026, claimed sufficient votes exist for this measure.
The United States has also taken a stance in this matter. Trump characterized the trial as a “witch hunt,” and the U.S. government has imposed financial sanctions on Justice Moraes along with a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian imports. In response, Moraes declared the court would not yield to “internal or external threats and coercion,” committing to remain “absolutely inflexible in defending national sovereignty.”
