John AdoyiThe Brazilian Supreme Court has ruled that former President, Jair Bolsonaro, must stand trial for his alleged involvement in the 2022 insurrection following his failed reelection bid.
The court’s five-member panel delivered a unanimous verdict on Wednesday, citing substantial evidence presented in an 884-page report by federal investigative police.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to prosecutors, Bolsonaro, 70, played a direct role in a plot to overturn his electoral loss to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Allegations against him include planning to poison Lula da Silva, assassinate the vice president, and target a Supreme Court justice. Despite these accusations, Bolsonaro has consistently denied any wrongdoing, labeling the charges as politically motivated.
Reacting to the court’s decision, Bolsonaro claimed that the judiciary’s actions were designed to sideline him from the 2026 electoral race. “Judging by what we read in the press, we are facing a trial with a pre-set date, target, and outcome,” he said, dismissing the case as a “procedural theater.”
Bolsonaro has been embroiled in multiple controversies since his electoral defeat in 2022. Even if he is not convicted in the coup attempt case, he has already been barred from running for office until 2030 by the country’s electoral court for peddling misinformation about the electoral system without proves.
This legal battle marks a significant moment in Brazil’s political landscape, further deepening the divide between Bolsonaro’s supporters and his opponents.
