Former president of Brazil could face prison if court proves attempted coup
Jair Bolsonaro (photo: Getty Images)
The Supreme Court of Brazil will try former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of attempting a coup. He could face a prison sentence if convicted, reports Reuters.
According to the agency, Bolsonaro will stand trial on charges of conspiring to overthrow the government after he lost the 2022 elections. On Wednesday, a panel of five Supreme Court judges unanimously decided to bring the former president to trial.
If convicted, Bolsonaro could face a lengthy prison sentence. This, in turn, would isolate the far-right politician, who has yet to name his successor (someone who could continue his agenda in the first camp). The trial is expected later this year.
Shortly after the Supreme Court's ruling, Bolsonaro held a press conference in Brazil. He delivered a lengthy defense against what he called serious and baseless accusations.
"It seems they have something personal against me," he said, referring to the judges.
The politician denied the charges, adding that they still haven't found anyone who could be the leader in the alleged coup attempt.
In his opening statement on Wednesday, Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the case, showed footage of Bolsonaro's supporters storming government buildings. The violent scenes unfolded just a week after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's inauguration in January 2023.
Moraes described the uprising as the result of systematic efforts by Bolsonaro to discredit the elections he lost, followed by a conspiracy to overthrow them using violence, with support from high-ranking military officers and cabinet members.
