BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — A panel of Supreme Court justices is set to decide this week whether former President Jair Bolsonaro is guilty of plotting to overthrow Brazil’s democracy after his 2022 electoral defeat. He faces five charges related to conspiring to stage a coup following his narrow loss to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, with potential prison time extending to decades if convicted.
Bolsonaro has denied all allegations, labeling the trial as a politically motivated assault on him. On Monday, a crowd of his supporters gathered outside his home in Brasilia, seeking to influence lawmakers to back an amnesty for the ex-leader.
Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet argued in court that Bolsonaro masterminded a multi-faceted scheme to cling to power, which involved fostering doubt about Brazil's electronic voting system and inciting a riot on January 8, 2023, aimed at prompting a military coup.
Evidence presented in court includes meetings held by Bolsonaro with top military and Cabinet officials to discuss an emergency decree to suspend the election results over unfounded fraud claims.
While defense attorney Celso Vilardi countered that no decree was ever implemented, the prosecution insists that intention combined with planning represents a threat to democratic governance. The former president claims he is being subjected to a 'witch hunt,' maintaining that he acted within legal boundaries.
Hundreds of Bolsonaro supporters have rallied in his defense, criticizing the justice overseeing the trial. This case is unprecedented, marking the first time that a former president and military officials face such charges in Brazilian history.
As the judicial panel prepares to cast votes on Bolsonaro's potential guilt this week, experts warn that a guilty verdict may lead to further diplomatic tensions, particularly with the U.S., which could respond with sanctions aimed at Brazilian authorities involved in the trial.
The proceedings are being closely monitored, as Bolsonaro is currently under house arrest and wears an ankle monitor, restricting his participation in the trial due to alleged medical issues. Whether he will attend this week remains uncertain as the court prepares to make a historic judgment about the integrity of Brazilian democracy.
Bolsonaro has denied all allegations, labeling the trial as a politically motivated assault on him. On Monday, a crowd of his supporters gathered outside his home in Brasilia, seeking to influence lawmakers to back an amnesty for the ex-leader.
Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet argued in court that Bolsonaro masterminded a multi-faceted scheme to cling to power, which involved fostering doubt about Brazil's electronic voting system and inciting a riot on January 8, 2023, aimed at prompting a military coup.
Evidence presented in court includes meetings held by Bolsonaro with top military and Cabinet officials to discuss an emergency decree to suspend the election results over unfounded fraud claims.
While defense attorney Celso Vilardi countered that no decree was ever implemented, the prosecution insists that intention combined with planning represents a threat to democratic governance. The former president claims he is being subjected to a 'witch hunt,' maintaining that he acted within legal boundaries.
Hundreds of Bolsonaro supporters have rallied in his defense, criticizing the justice overseeing the trial. This case is unprecedented, marking the first time that a former president and military officials face such charges in Brazilian history.
As the judicial panel prepares to cast votes on Bolsonaro's potential guilt this week, experts warn that a guilty verdict may lead to further diplomatic tensions, particularly with the U.S., which could respond with sanctions aimed at Brazilian authorities involved in the trial.
The proceedings are being closely monitored, as Bolsonaro is currently under house arrest and wears an ankle monitor, restricting his participation in the trial due to alleged medical issues. Whether he will attend this week remains uncertain as the court prepares to make a historic judgment about the integrity of Brazilian democracy.
