Brazil’s federal police have indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others for allegedly attempting a coup to retain power following his 2022 election loss. The charges were delivered to the Supreme Court, which will pass them to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who will decide whether to formally charge Bolsonaro and proceed with a trial, reads a Washington Times report.
Bolsonaro, who has denied any wrongdoing, dismissed the investigation as “creativity” and said he would fight the charges. The 700-page indictment focuses on his alleged role in plotting to overturn the results of the 2022 elections, which saw him defeated by leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Among the indicted are key allies of Bolsonaro, including his running mate in the 2022 election, Gen. Walter Braga Netto, former Army commander Gen. Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira, Liberal Party chairman Valdemar Costa Neto, and former adviser Gen. Augusto Heleno.
In addition to the coup-related investigation, Bolsonaro faces multiple legal challenges, including accusations of smuggling diamond jewelry and falsifying COVID-19 vaccination records. He has also been investigated for undermining Brazil’s electoral system, resulting in a ruling barring him from running for office until 2030.
Despite the mounting legal threats, Bolsonaro has maintained his intention to run again in 2026, bolstered by support from his allies, particularly following Donald Trump’s recent U.S. election win. However, his legal troubles have weakened his standing within Brazil’s right-wing political sphere.
Political analysts, including Carlos Melo from Insper University, believe that Bolsonaro’s prospects for a 2026 presidential bid may be in jeopardy, with the possibility of jail time if convicted. Legal experts like Eloísa Machado de Almeida suggest there is enough evidence for the prosecutor-general to pursue formal charges.
Bolsonaro’s allies in Congress are also attempting to pass a bill that could pardon those involved in the January 8, 2023, riots in Brasília, speculated to potentially include the former president.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
