Brazil’s Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that former President Jair Bolsonaro must stand trial over allegations of attempting to remain in power after his 2022 election defeat.
All five justices accepted the charges brought by Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who accused Bolsonaro and 33 others of plotting a coup.
Gonet had accused Bolsonaro of attempting to poison his successor, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and assassinate a Supreme Court judge.
The court also ordered seven of Bolsonaro’s close allies to stand trial on multiple charges, including attempting to stage a coup, involvement in an armed criminal organisation, and attempting to violently overthrow the democratic rule of law.
Other charges brought against them include acts of violence against state property and the deterioration of national heritage.
Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing, claiming he is a victim of political persecution.
Under Brazilian law, a coup conviction carries a sentence of up to 12 years. If found guilty on all charges, Bolsonaro could face decades in prison.
Accepting the charges, Justice Flávio Dino said the gravity of the accusations was enormous.
“Coups kill. It doesn’t matter if it happens today, the following month, or a few years later,” he stated.
According to Gonet, the alleged conspiracy was aimed at keeping Bolsonaro in power “at all costs” as soon as he lost the election.
He added that the plan to assassinate Lula and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes was reportedly abandoned at the last minute after failing to secure the support of the army’s commander.
Despite the plan’s failure, Gonet said the accused conspirators did not give up on violently seizing power, even after Lula took office. According to him, it led to the January 8, 2023, riots, when Bolsonaro’s supporters stormed the Supreme Court, presidential palace, and Congress in Brasília, just one week after Lula’s inauguration.
Among those ordered to stand trial are Bolsonaro’s former running mate and Defence Minister Walter Braga Netto, former Justice Minister Anderson Torres, and former aide-de-camp Mauro Cid.
The court will later determine the fate of the remaining accused individuals.
