Brazil’s Former President Jair Bolsonaro to Stand Trial for Alleged Coup Plot
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will stand trial for allegedly orchestrating a violent coup attempt to retain power, following a decision by the country’s Supreme Court. The ruling places Bolsonaro, who led Brazil from 2019 to 2022, at risk of a potential prison sentence exceeding 40 years and further diminishes his political future.
The Supreme Court also ruled that seven of Bolsonaro’s close allies would face trial for crimes including participation in an armed criminal organization, coup d’état, and violently attempting to undermine democracy. Among them are former Defense Ministers Gen. Walter Braga Netto and Gen. Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira, former Navy Commander Adm. Almir Garnier Santos, former Security Minister Anderson Torres, former Intelligence Chief Alexandre Ramagem, former Minister for Institutional Security Gen. Augusto Heleno, and former Assistant Lt. Col. Mauro Cid, who has struck a plea deal with prosecutors in exchange for a reduced sentence.
The accusations center on a plan to prevent Bolsonaro’s electoral defeat in the 2022 presidential election from taking effect. Prosecutors claim that, in the months following his loss to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Bolsonaro and his associates conspired to stage a pro-Bolsonaro coup. The effort culminated in the January 8, 2023, riots in Brasília, when Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in an attempt to incite chaos and justify military intervention.
During the court proceedings, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes presented video evidence of the violent attack on government institutions, describing it as an “extraordinarily violent attempted coup.” He pointed to the destruction of Supreme Court property and attacks on police officers, labeling the events as “untamed violence” that demonstrated the severity of the crimes.
Beyond the January 8 riots, authorities allege other plots were in motion to block Lula’s presidency, including assassination plans targeting the president, vice president, and Supreme Court justices. Brazil’s Attorney General, Paulo Gonet, stated that investigators uncovered a scheme, codenamed “Green and Yellow Dagger,” which involved plans to kill Lula using poison and assassinate Justice Moraes. According to Gonet, the plot was abandoned only because the conspirators failed to gain the cooperation of the army commander.
Bolsonaro has denied all accusations, calling the case against him “an aberration.” In a WhatsApp message sent to allies, he rejected claims of a coup attempt and insisted he never sought to subvert democracy. Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, Bolsonaro reiterated his stance, claiming he was the victim of judicial persecution designed to end his political career and silence opposition voices.
In court, legal representatives for Bolsonaro and his co-defendants maintained their clients’ innocence. Bolsonaro’s lawyer denied the former president was involved in the January 8 riots or any conspiracy to commit political assassinations. Lawyers for Braga Netto, Oliveira, Torres, and other accused officials similarly dismissed the allegations, with some attacking the investigation’s credibility.
Political analysts believe Bolsonaro’s chances of avoiding conviction are slim, with potential outcomes including imprisonment or self-imposed exile. Some speculate that Bolsonaro’s best chance at political rehabilitation lies in the 2026 election, where a right-wing successor could issue a pardon if elected. Among potential candidates are Bolsonaro’s son, Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, and his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro.
The former president is also reportedly seeking support from his international allies, particularly former U.S. President Donald Trump, in his bid to avoid legal consequences and revive his political career. However, analysts suggest that Trump may have other priorities and may not intervene in Bolsonaro’s legal troubles.
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