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2mo ago

Brazil's Supreme Court Nears Decision on Bolsonaro Coup Trial

The court is expected to rule today on whether the former president and seven allies will face criminal charges for an alleged conspiracy to overturn the 2022 election.

A journalist, foreground, attends the trial of Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro, on the large screen behind, in an external area of the Supreme Court in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
FILE - Police stand on the other side of a window at Planalto Palace that was shattered by protesters, supporters of Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro, after they stormed the official workplace of the president in Brasilia, Brazil, Jan. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File)
Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro arrives at a rally on Copacabana Beach in support of a proposed bill to grant amnesty to those arrested for storming government buildings in an alleged coup attempt in 2023, in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
FILE - Lady Justice statue, depicting a seated, blindfolded woman holding a sword, stands outside the Supreme Court in Brasilia, Brazil, Sept. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File)

Overview

  • Jair Bolsonaro faces five charges, including leading a criminal organization and attempting to violently abolish Brazil's democratic state of law, stemming from alleged election-related coup plots.
  • Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet has presented evidence of plans to poison President Lula and assassinate Justice Alexandre de Moraes as part of efforts to overturn Bolsonaro's 2022 election defeat.
  • The Supreme Court panel, which began deliberations Tuesday, must decide if there is sufficient evidence to proceed with a criminal trial against Bolsonaro and seven close associates.
  • If convicted, Bolsonaro could face decades in prison, with the coup charge alone carrying a sentence of up to 12 years under Brazilian law.
  • Bolsonaro denies all accusations, claiming political persecution, while his ability to mobilize supporters has reportedly waned following smaller-than-expected turnout at recent rallies.