The Supreme Federal Court of Brazil has delivered a majority ruling, leaning towards the conviction of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Over a five-day period, judges have been issuing individual verdicts, each accompanied by extensive justifications. Currently, three out of the five justices have voted to find Bolsonaro guilty of attempted coup d’état and criminal conspiracy.
A final decision and sentencing are expected Friday. The potential penalty could reach up to 43 years in prison. This would mark a historic first: the conviction of a former Brazilian president for attempting to overthrow a democratically elected government.
Bolsonaro, known to be a close associate of former U.S. President Donald Trump, is facing accusations related to events following the 2022 presidential election. Trump, similarly investigated relating to the January 6th Capitol breach, saw his case dismissed due to his subsequent electoral victory. Notably, Trump imposed tariffs of 50 percent on Brazilian goods earlier this year, citing concerns over the Brazilian judiciary’s handling of the case against Bolsonaro.
Seven other individuals, including Bolsonaro’s former vice-presidential candidate and prominent figures from the military and political spheres, are also under indictment. The charges against these individuals include the formation of an armed criminal organization, an attempted violent dismantling of the democratic rule of law and participation in a coup d’état.
Prosecutors allege that in 2022, Bolsonaro held meetings with ambassadors to discuss unsubstantiated claims of electoral fraud, purportedly aiming to “prepare the international community for the disregard of the people’s will” in the presidential election. The prosecution maintains that the accused continued a campaign to undermine the electoral system despite the absence of any evidence of irregularities. The alleged final attempt to cast doubt on the election results occurred on January 8, 2023, when Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalized government buildings in Brasília.