Bolsonaro Awaits Ruling on Alleged Coup Plot Charges

BRASILIA, 26 March 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro will learn on Wednesday whether he faces trial over accusations of orchestrating an alleged coup attempt after his defeat in the 2022 elections.

Brazil’s Supreme Court convened on Tuesday to hear arguments for and against putting the ex-president, who led the country from 2019 to 2022, on trial for allegedly masterminding efforts to disrupt the transition of power to his left-wing successor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Lula was inaugurated as president on 1 January 2023, following a tightly contested election in which he narrowly defeated Bolsonaro. The ex-president, 70, is accused by prosecutors of orchestrating a plot to retain power “regardless of the outcome of the election.”

The Supreme Court panel, consisting of five judges, is expected to announce its decision on Wednesday regarding whether the case against Bolsonaro will proceed to trial.

Charges Against Bolsonaro

In February, Bolsonaro was formally charged with crimes including overseeing a “coup d’état,” attempting the “violent abolition of the democratic state of law,” and leading an “armed criminal organisation.” If convicted, Bolsonaro could face a prison sentence of more than 40 years.

Bolsonaro has vehemently denied the accusations, claiming he is the victim of a politically motivated plot to prevent his political comeback in the 2026 elections. “This is the largest political-judicial persecution in the history of Brazil,” he said in a statement to the court on Tuesday. “The referee has blown the whistle before the match even began,” he added in a post on social media platform X.

Investigation and Allegations

The investigation into the alleged coup attempt has produced a dossier of nearly 900 pages of evidence. The charges against Bolsonaro include his involvement in a broader plan to contest the 2022 election results and efforts to assassinate Lula, his vice president Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes – a vocal opponent of Bolsonaro who is also serving as one of the judges in this case.

Prosecutors claim that the plot fell apart due to a lack of support from the Brazilian military’s high command. However, the investigation also links Bolsonaro to the disturbances that took place on 8 January 2023, when thousands of his supporters stormed key government institutions in Brasília, including the presidential palace, Congress, and the Supreme Court, calling for a military intervention to remove Lula from office. Bolsonaro was in the United States at the time and denies any involvement in the violence.

Bolsonaro’s Legal and Political Future

In addition to the coup-related charges, Bolsonaro has been disqualified from holding public office until 2030 for his efforts to undermine the credibility of Brazil’s electronic voting system. He has, however, expressed hope that the ban will be overturned, allowing him to run for president again in 2026.

Throughout the investigation, Bolsonaro has drawn comparisons between his situation and that of his political idol, former US president Donald Trump, who faced legal challenges but returned to the White House after a similar incident in 2021, when his supporters stormed the US Capitol. In a recent interview with the Financial Times, Bolsonaro stated that Brazil “needs support from abroad” as it has “become a real dictatorship.”

The Trial’s Potential Implications

The Supreme Court’s decision will determine whether there is enough evidence to try Bolsonaro and seven other individuals allegedly involved in the coup plot, including former ministers and a navy commander. In total, 34 people have been implicated in the investigation.

As the case progresses, Brazil’s political landscape remains closely watched, with Bolsonaro’s supporters and critics awaiting the outcome of this significant legal and political battle.