At the same time, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is facing a colossal legal scrutiny. He is accused of heinous crimes in attempting to subvert the results of the 2022 presidential election. Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet recently issued an in-depth 517-page report. In it, they lay out the allegations against Bolsonaro asserting that he sought to foment insurrection and destroy Brazil’s democratic institutions.
Bolsonaro, who was defeated by left-wing rival Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the 2022 election, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. He painted the charges as a politically motivated hit job, claiming he’s the subject of a “witch hunt.” Hours before Gonet submitted his final allegations, Bolsonaro stated on X, “I never violated democracy or the constitution.”
The prosecution’s case against Bolsonaro is extensive. In a sharp rebuke, Gonet slapped him with the charge of ringleader of an armed criminal enterprise. He has even admitted to trying to organize a violent coup to overthrow democracy itself. Police have arrested many of Bolsonaro’s aides in their attempts to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power. They claim these steps were meant to trigger a military coup.
If ultimately convicted on these charges, Bolsonaro could be sentenced to decades in prison. Indeed, a conviction for an attempted coup would be punishable by up to 12 years in prison. The prosecutor’s indictment seeks convictions against 12 of Bolsonaro’s inner circle. This roster includes his vice president, Walter Braga Netto, former Justice Minister Anderson Torres and aide-de-camp Mauro Cid.
In early January 2023, just after Lula assumed office, supporters of Bolsonaro kicked off a violent insurrection. They invaded and vandalized the National Congress and other state institutions to contest Lula’s electoral win. This insurrection has been met with almost universal condemnation and fears for the future of Brazil’s democracy.
Gonet described the allegations against Bolsonaro as grave and serious. He stated, “The evidence is clear: the defendant acted systematically throughout his mandate and after his defeat at the polls to incite insurrection and the destabilization of the democratic rule of law.”
In reaction to these advances, of course, Bolsonaro has doubled down on his cries of political persecution. He stated, “All the accusations are false. I never violated democracy or the constitution.” His rhetoric is almost a mirror image of some of his international fellow travelers, particularly U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump has made a friend of Bolsonaro, while bad-mouthing Brazil’s treatment of him.
“President [Trump’s statements] are clear. We will be watching closely.” – Darren Beattie
Justice Luis Roberto Barroso put the situation into context, as a reminder to observers of Brazil’s past struggle under authoritarian rule. He noted, “For those who didn’t live through a dictatorship or don’t remember one, it’s worth remembering: there was a lack of freedom, torture, forced disappearances, the closure of Congress, and the persecution of judges. In today’s Brazil, no one is persecuted.”
As the dramatic legal drama continues to unfold, there are serious implications, not just for Bolsonaro himself, but for Brazil’s political landscape. The prosecution’s actions signal a commitment to uphold democratic principles in the face of challenges from within.
