A Plot to Overthrow? Former President Jair Bolsonaro and His Accomplices on Trial
Questions directed towards suspected conspirators involved in a potential power seizure under Brazil's ex-president - Interrogated suspects implicated in alleged coup attempts involving Brazil's ex-president
In the first trial of its kind for a Brazilian ex-president, the Supreme Court (STF) is questioning eight defendants, including Jair Bolsonaro's close associates, for their alleged role in a coup attempt. The Attorney General's Office alleges that this group had planned to oust Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's government after Bolsonaro's removal from office.
Following Lula's inauguration on January 8, 2023, Bolsonaro's supporters rampaged through the Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Presidential Palace in Brasília. It took hours for government forces to restore order in the capital.
According to the Attorney General's Office, the defendants are accused of masterminding the coup against the democratic order. The hearings started with Lieutenant Colonel Mauro Cid, who served as Bolsonaro's adjutant and confidant during his presidency. Cid now serves as a witness, implicating the former right-wing president heavily. Other defendants include high-ranking military officials and former ministers, with Bolsonaro expected to be questioned soon.
The defendants stand accused of attempting to usurp the democratic order, planning a coup, conspiring in an armed criminal association, vandalism, and damaging historical monuments. The hearings are scheduled to run until June 13.
The alleged coup attempt followed tensions arising from the 2022 presidential election, where Lula defeated incumbent President Jair Bolsonaro. Prior to the election, Bolsonaro and his supporters raised allegations of electoral fraud, which may have served as the catalyst for the coup plot.
Following the fiasco on January 8, investigations were initiated, leading to charges against Bolsonaro and some of his allies for their supposed roles in the coup plot. Bolsonaro himself has since been banned from running for public office until 2030 by the Superior Electoral Court due to his attempts to manipulate the 2022 election results.
The coup trial marks the first time a Brazilian ex-president faces charges related to an attempted coup. Over 80 witnesses are scheduled to testify, with Bolsonaro and his allies set to go through cross-examination.
Since the coup plot in 2023, Brazil has witnessed standoffs between supporters of Lula and Bolsonaro, raising concerns over the state of its democracy. A timeline of key events, from the 2022 elections to the ongoing trial in 2025, emphasizes the escalating tensions:
- 2022:
- Presidential Elections: Lula defeats Bolsonaro, triggering allegations of electoral fraud.
- January 1, 2023:
- Lula's Inauguration: Despite tensions, Lula takes office peacefully.
- January 8, 2023:
- Storming of Government Buildings: Bolsonaro supporters storm Brazil's National Congress, the Supreme Federal Court, and the Planalto Palace, demanding a military coup.
- 2023 (Following the Riots):
- Investigations and Charges: The Brazilian government launches investigations and brings charges against Bolsonaro and his allies for their roles in the coup plot.
- 2025:
- Trial Begins: Bolsonaro stands trial for his alleged involvement in the coup plot, with seven of his former associates alongside him.
This timeline highlights the escalation of events surrounding the suspected coup attempt in Brazil, from the 2022 election to the ongoing trial in 2025. Despite democratic institutions' best efforts to restore order, the tensions between the opposing political factions continue to pose a threat to Brazil's stability.
The trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro and his associates, held by the Supreme Court, is related to their alleged involvement in a coup attempt against the democratically-elected government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. This plot, which was planned shortly after Bolsonaro's defeat in the 2022 presidential election, constitutes a significant political news story falling under the categories of EC countries, general-news, and crime-and-justice.
