Brazil’s highest court has determined former President Jair Bolsonaro will face trial on five charges, including attempting a coup.
Prosecutors allege Bolsonaro and seven co-conspirators planned to forcibly take control of the country after losing the 2022 election.
His supporters rioted in the country’s capital, Brasília, following the inauguration of President Lula da Silva, damaging government buildings.
Background
Bolsonaro was elected President in 2019, after serving in the army during Brazil’s decades-long military dictatorship, and in the country’s Congress.
His socially conservative policies and populist campaign style have led to him being called the ‘Trump of the Tropics’.
As president, Bolsonaro relaxed gun laws, pared back climate change initiatives, and intensified abortion regulations.
Throughout his presidency, Bolsonaro openly criticised the court and voting processes. He later refused to accept the results of the 2022 election, which he lost to left-wing rival Lula da Silva.
Following the election, Bolsonaro’s supporters tried to convince the military to overturn the result by camping outside army barracks.
Then, after Lula’s inauguration in January 2023, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed Brazil’s Congress, Presidential Palace and Supreme Court.
Bolsonaro was in the U.S. at the time.
The coup
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Last year, investigators alleged Bolsonaro and seven members of his inner circle had planned a coup.
It allegedly involved assassinating both Lula and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
The group’s plan involved stoking public distrust in the electoral system, announcing Bolsonaro as the rightful president, securing the army’s cooperation, and inciting a riot.
Allegedly, the plan was abandoned because the group did not have army support.
What's next?
Bolsonaro will fight charges of attempting a coup, involvement in a criminal organisation, attempting to abolish democracy, and damaging state assets and heritage.
Regardless of the outcome of the trial, Bolsonaro is already banned from running for President until 2030 due to his actions in office the first time, including abuse of power.
All five justices, led by de Moraes, said there was sufficient evidence for a trial. Prosecutors have also secured the cooperation of one of the alleged co-conspirators.
The former president has denied all allegations.
In a post to X, Bolsonaro said: “Those in power are focused on ensuring I spend the rest of my life in prison so I can never run for president again… Everyone knows that if I were allowed to run, I would win.”
Meanwhile, Bolsonaro and his family have lobbied President Trump for support. Bolsonaro’s son has previously said he plans to flee to the U.S, alleging persecution in Brazil.
