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Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro has been formally charged with attempting a coup following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election.
The charges, brought by the country’s chief prosecutor, accuse Bolsonaro of leading a criminal organization that sought to prevent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from taking office.
Bolsonaro, 69, faces five charges, including plotting to poison President Lula and assassinate Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The former leader has denied any wrongdoing, calling the case a politically motivated attack.
The Supreme Court will now decide whether to proceed with a trial. If the case moves forward, Bolsonaro and 33 others— including political allies and military figures—will be formally charged and required to stand trial.
Bolsonaro was previously banned from running for office for eight years after falsely claiming that Brazil’s electronic voting system was vulnerable to fraud. His refusal to accept defeat in the 2022 election culminated in the January 8, 2023, riots, where thousands of his supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília.
A federal police report released three months ago accused Bolsonaro of orchestrating the coup attempt, including enlisting support from key military figures. Prosecutors argue that he and his allies engaged in a coordinated effort to overturn the election results.
The case has further deepened Brazil’s political divisions. Bolsonaro’s opponents welcome the charges, arguing he should be jailed, while his supporters insist he is being persecuted. Despite his political ban, Bolsonaro remains a powerful force in Brazil and could use the trial to rally his base ahead of future elections.
The Supreme Court is expected to proceed with the trial later this year, a move that could have major implications for Brazil’s political landscape.
The post Brazil’s Former President Jair Bolsonaro Charged with Attempted Coup appeared first on Arise News.
