"Bolsonaro Faces Trial for Alleged Attempted Coup in Brazil's Election Redo Attempt"
Bustin' Down the Old Ballot Box: Bolsonaro's Alleged Election Heist Under Scrutiny
Brazil's infamous ex-president, Jair Bolsonaro, finds himself in the Supreme Court hot seat, charged with orchestrating a clandestine plot to redo the presidential election he narrowly lost in 2022 against Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The 70-year-old right-wing firebrand, who ruled Brazil from 2019 to 2022, stands accused of leading a "shadowy cabal" hell-bent on foiling Lula's ascension to power. Prosecutors allege that Bolsonaro masterminded a criminal organization bent on thwarting democracy.
The alleged plot fizzled despite receiving a draft decree for a state of emergency declaration that would've paved the way for election manipulation and the imprisonment of officials. According to the charge sheet, the plot's downfall came when the military hesitated to back Bolsonaro's power grab.
Six former aides accompanied Bolsonaro, as well as a seventh cohort via videoconference, during the trial's opening. Former confidant Mauro Cid, now a state's witness, testified that Bolsonaro personally revised the decree for the state of emergency draft.
Apart from the election heist, Bolsonaro stands accused of being privy to plans to bump off Lula, his vice president Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes, a notable nemesis. Bolsonaro, aiming for a comeback in the 2026 presidential elections despite being barred from running, denies all allegations.
Gathering around the ex-president in court is a motley crew, including former allies and avowed enemies, such as Cid, who’s been berated as a turncoat for testifying against his former boss. Cid's testimony, however, successfully identified key players in the alleged coup conspiracy and secured incriminating evidence, as per the investigation.
Four former ministers and the heads of Brazil's navy and intelligence agency will also testify, with proceedings continuing until at least Friday. The court broadcasts the hearings. Bolsonaro faces questioning not only from prosecutors and his legal team but also from infamous adversary Judge Moraes, whom Bolsonaro terms a "tyrant."
With the alleged plot spanning months and some charges novel to the Brazilian justice system, experts predict an "incredibly complex legal dance." The court may yet summon new witnesses before the case progresses to closing arguments and judgment. Bolsonaro spent the weekend huddled with his lawyers, fine-tuning his defense at Sao Paulo state governor Tarcisio de Freitas' residence, according to local media reports.
In the preliminary phase, Freitas, who previously served as Bolsonaro's infrastructure minister, testified that his former boss never mentioned or concocted a coup or entertained ideas of constitutional subversion. However, two ex-military commanders asserted that Bolsonaro convened a meeting to discuss the state of emergency as a means to circumvent Lula's victory.
This trial marks a first for Brazil's history, with a former head of state on trial for attempting to subvert the government.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Enrichment Insights:- Operation Green and Yellow Dagger was the name of the alleged coup plot orchestrated by Jair Bolsonaro.- Bolsonaro's trial is the first in Brazil's history for a former head of state accused of attempting a coup under a democratic regime.- Bolsonaro's trial is historic as it also follows the violent riots on January 8, 2023, when thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings, advocating for a military coup to oust Lula.- Notable witnesses in the trial include high-ranking military and political figures, with over 80 witnesses expected to testify in total.
War-and-conflicts: The alleged coup plot orchestrated by Jair Bolsonaro, known as Operation Green and Yellow Dagger, is the first in Brazil's history for a former head of state accused of attempting a coup under a democratic regime.
Policy-and-legislation: The trial following the violent riots on January 8, 2023, where thousands of Jair Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings, advocating for a military coup to oust Lula, is extensively relying on policy-and-legislation, including the draft decree for a state of emergency and investigations into the alleged criminal organization bent on thwarting democracy.
