Brazil’s Supreme Court has decided to put former President Jair Bolsonaro on trial for attempting a coup after his loss in the 2022 election. Bolsonaro, who led Brazil from 2019 to 2022, faces serious charges, including trying to violently disrupt democracy. He has called these accusations “grave and unfounded.”
A panel of five judges unanimously agreed to proceed with the trial, which is expected to happen later this year. If convicted, Bolsonaro could face a lengthy prison sentence, which would further distance him from Brazilian politics. Notably, he has not indicated a successor to carry on his political legacy.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the case, presented shocking footage of Bolsonaro’s supporters storming government buildings shortly after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office in January 2023. Moraes highlighted how Bolsonaro worked to undermine confidence in Brazil’s electronic voting machines, which were used in the election he lost.
In January 2023, chaos erupted in Brasília when thousands of Bolsonaro’s supporters attacked the capital, leading to around 1,500 arrests. This incident has been a focal point in the ongoing legal proceedings against him and his allies.
Bolsonaro attended the initial court session voluntarily, sitting quietly among the audience. In the lead-up to the trial, he held a rally in Rio de Janeiro, hoping to rally support against Lula. However, the event attracted only a fraction of the expected crowd, with estimates of attendance ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 people.
Despite a ruling from Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court that bars him from running for office until 2030 due to his actions against the voting system, Bolsonaro insists he plans to run for president again next year. His management of the COVID-19 pandemic is also under legal scrutiny, adding to the challenges he faces.
As the trial approaches, Bolsonaro’s fate hangs in the balance, marking a significant moment in Brazil’s political landscape.