In another historic legal precedent, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on trial He has been recently indicted for trying to orchestrate a coup d’etat in 2022. The Brazilian Supreme Court took its decision on the basis of prosecutors’ accusations. They accused Bolsonaro and 33 others of conspiring to attack democracy and even remove President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from power. This decision follows a series of controversial events, including Bolsonaro's meetings with ambassadors to discuss voting fraud accusations and his subsequent denial of any wrongdoing.
The charges against Bolsonaro originated from a 2022 meeting in which he discussed supposed voting fraud with foreign diplomats. Prosecutors contended that this was only one piece of a broader campaign. They claimed that this campaign began in 2021 and sought to erode confidence in Brazil’s electronic voting system. The failed coup conspiracy involved startling preparations for drastic action. It was meant to carry out a coup against key political leaders, they said, including President Lula, his vice president and a Supreme Court minister, with assassination as possible.
Bolsonaro, who was banned from public office for eight years after an investigation into abuse of power, vehemently denied the wrongdoing. He continues to maintain that he was wrongfully convicted. His defence, led by lawyer Celso Vilardi, maintained that there was no evidence connecting him to the Brasilia rioters. Bolsonaro himself criticized the case against him on X, likening it to a rigged soccer match, stating:
“In my case, the referee whistles against the game before the game even starts… and it’s also the VAR (video assistant referee), the linesman, the coach and the opposing team’s top scorer; all in one person.”
Justice Alexandre de Moraes was instrumental in the Supreme Court’s action letting the charges proceed. As chair, he famously held the first Republican vote in favor of accepting them in their entirety. The court's simple majority vote also included charges against Bolsonaro's vice-presidential candidate and other military and political leaders. Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet commented on the gravity of the accusations, saying:
“They all accepted, encouraged and carried out acts that are classified in criminal legislation as an attack against the existence and independence of the Powers and the Democratic State of Law.”
The prosecutors charged Bolsonaro with planning a coup to undermine the Brazilian democratic process. They contended that his actions were intended to train the international community to not recognize Brazil’s presidential elections. The legitimacy of those elections was now imperiled. The Attorney General's Office described these actions as:
“an attempt to prepare the international community for disrespecting the popular will in the presidential elections.”
Even as he faced these grave charges, Bolsonaro continued to touchtone his innocence, and claim that he was sure justice would prevail. He stated:
“I’m fine. We always expect justice. Nothing is substantiated in the accusations made in a biased manner by the Federal Police.”
If found guilty, Bolsonaro could be sentenced to up to 28 years behind bars. Yet this legal battle truly adds to the chaos surrounding his political career. It is already brimming with controversies, including multiple instances of misinformation related to Brazil’s electoral integrity. His comments on X yesterday were aimed at blaming the speed at which these judges progressed with this case.
