Overview

• Jair Bolsonaro has been formally charged with crimes including plotting a coup, armed criminal association, and attempts to abolish the rule of law after losing the 2022 presidential election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
• The indictment details an alleged two-year conspiracy involving disinformation campaigns, street unrest, and plans to neutralize opponents through violence, including assassination attempts using poison and firearms.
• If convicted, Bolsonaro could face a prison sentence exceeding 40 years, marking a potential end to his political career after already being banned from seeking office until 2030.
• Brazil's judiciary and institutions have been widely praised for defending democracy, with analysts contrasting their actions to the U.S.'s handling of similar allegations against Donald Trump.
• The case has intensified a power struggle within Brazil's right-wing movement, as Bolsonaro's potential successors, including his wife and son, begin positioning themselves for future leadership.