Brazil’s Top Court: Bolsonaro Must Face Trial Over Attempted Coup

Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled unanimously Wednesday to try former President Jair Bolsonaro for allegedly attempting to orchestrate a coup after losing the 2022 presidential elections, in a case that could reshape Brazil’s political landscape ahead of the next national vote in 2026, Reuters reported.

The court’s five-judge panel agreed that the right-wing former leader should be tried for an array of charges, including leading a criminal organization, attacking the democratic rule of law, and plotting a military coup.

The case centers on Bolsonaro’s role in the storming of key government buildings in the capital of Brasília by his supporters on Jan. 8, 2023. The incident happened months after Bolsonaro lost the election to his leftist rival, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and a week after Lula’s inauguration.

If convicted, Bolsonaro could face a decade in prison, legal analysts told the Wall Street Journal.

The decision comes after a two-year investigation, with prosecutors accusing Bolsonaro of instigating the insurrection by discrediting the election and allegedly encouraging senior military officials to support a plot to block the peaceful transfer of power.

Investigators added that the former president also considered violent options to prevent his rival from taking office, including plots to assassinate Lula, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.

The court also accepted charges against seven of his former top aides, including former Defense Minister Paulo Sérgio Nogueira and former Chief of Staff Walter Braga Netto, both retired generals. The case marks the first time in modern Brazilian history that high-ranking military officials will face trial for attempting to undermine democracy.

Observers described the ruling as a swift legal escalation against Bolsonaro, who has already been barred from seeking public office until 2030 by Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court for attacking the integrity of the voting system.

Regardless, Bolsonaro has continued to draw thousands at rallies and remains a central figure in Brazilian conservative circles.

Following Wednesday’s decision, Bolsonaro denied the allegations, while denouncing the court’s actions and accusations as “grave and baseless.” He insisted that no armed coup attempt took place and cast the court’s move as a bid to eliminate political opposition.

The verdict also comes as Lula’s approval ratings continue to decline, with inflation and public discontent threatening his administration.

Analysts predict Bolsonaro’s trial will deepen Brazil’s political polarization, especially if the former president is convicted and imprisoned.