Brazilian former President Jair Bolsonaro has been charged with leading a plot to overthrow the government and undermine democracy, just months after his 2022 election loss. The charges come after a two-year police investigation into the election-denying movement that culminated in riots by Bolsonaro supporters in Brasilia.
Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet charged Bolsonaro and his running mate, General Walter Braga Netto, with leading a “criminal organization” that sought to create a new order in the country. The group allegedly planned to poison President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and took steps to dismantle Brazil’s democratic institutions.
Thirty-four people have been charged, including several military officials. Bolsonaro’s lawyers claim he never supported any movement aimed at dismantling democracy, but analysts say it’s unlikely he’ll be arrested before his trial.
The charges echo the case of former US President Donald Trump, who was accused of seeking to overturn his re-election loss in 2020. If convicted, Bolsonaro faces up to 12 years in prison and could lose his chances at a political comeback.
Bolsonaro’s allies hope to mobilize support to increase pressure on courts and lawmakers to clear the path for his return to politics. However, a Supreme Court conviction would mark an insurmountable obstacle to his future candidacy.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-general-prosecutor-charges-bolsonaro-alleged-coup-plot-2025-02-19