Brazil’s Supreme Court has commenced deliberations in the high-profile trial of former president Jair Bolsonaro, accused of plotting a coup to remain in power after losing the 2022 election to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
by Sunday Buna Ibrahim
The five-member panel began voting on Tuesday, with Justices Alexandre de Moraes and Flavio Dino already siding in favor of conviction. Bolsonaro, 70, faces up to 43 years in prison if found guilty of charges that include attempting to abolish democracy, organizing a coup, damaging public property, and forming a criminal organization. Seven co-defendants, including ex-ministers and army generals, also face trial.
Justice Moraes, who leads the panel, declared there was “no doubt” an attempted coup occurred, pointing to evidence including assassination plans against Lula.
The proceedings mark the first time a former Brazilian head of state has faced coup charges. For many, the trial is a landmark test of the country’s democracy four decades after the military dictatorship, though Bolsonaro supporters call it a political “disgrace.” Thousands demonstrated over the weekend, while allies in Congress push for an amnesty law.
A guilty verdict would not only carry a steep prison sentence but also crush Bolsonaro’s hopes of staging a political comeback. He remains under house arrest in Brasilia amid health concerns linked to a 2018 stabbing.
The trial has drawn international attention, with US President Donald Trump condemning it as a “witch hunt.” Washington has imposed sanctions on Justice Moraes and tariffs on Brazilian imports. Moraes insists the court will resist “internal or external threats” in defense of national sovereignty.
Daily Frontier is committed to being a trusted source of accurate and timely news, offering in-depth coverage of current affairs, emerging trends, and critical issues shaping today’s world
