Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro has been formally charged in connection with an alleged coup attempt aimed at overturning the 2022 presidential election results. Prosecutors filed the charges on Tuesday evening, implicating Bolsonaro and 33 others in crimes that include forming an armed criminal organization, attempting to violently dismantle democratic rule, and orchestrating a coup d’état.
Authorities assert that the plot to undermine Brazil’s electoral process began in 2021. Prosecutors allege that Bolsonaro and his associates worked to erode public confidence in the country’s electronic voting system. In 2022, Bolsonaro reportedly met with foreign diplomats and ambassadors, presenting unfounded allegations of electoral fraud to prepare the international community for potential disputes over the election results.
Despite the absence of credible evidence of election fraud, the accused allegedly continued their campaign to challenge the legitimacy of the voting system. Prosecutors claim that Bolsonaro ultimately sanctioned a detailed plan to overturn the election results, which allegedly included threats against the then-President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his vice president.
The last major push to reverse the election took place on January 8, 2023. On this day, Bolsonaro supporters stormed key government buildings in Brasília, including the presidential palace, Congress, and the Supreme Court. The violent protests led to extensive vandalism and prompted a nationwide crackdown on those involved in the attacks.
In November 2023, Bolsonaro and 36 others were previously indicted in a related investigation into the coup attempt. Federal police allege that Bolsonaro had full knowledge of the coup strategy and played a direct leadership role in its execution. The Supreme Court in Brasília will now review the charges, potentially paving the way for a highly publicized trial. If the court accepts the charges, Bolsonaro and his co-defendants will be formally classified as defendants in the case.
To prevent the trial from interfering with Brazil’s 2026 presidential elections, Supreme Court justices are aiming to conclude proceedings by the end of 2025. However, preliminary hearings are not expected to be scheduled until at least early March.
Responding to the charges on Tuesday, Bolsonaro denied any involvement in the coup attempt. Speaking to journalists in Brasília, he dismissed the accusations, stating, “I have no concerns about these allegations, zero.” He further challenged prosecutors to present concrete evidence, insisting he had never seen any such coup decree.
Reports indicate that Bolsonaro has been in Brasília negotiating a possible amnesty deal, though no formal agreement has been reached. If convicted, Bolsonaro could face a prison sentence of up to 28 years, marking a significant fall from grace for the former president.
Bolsonaro was previously banned from holding public office for eight years following a separate investigation that found him guilty of spreading misinformation about Brazil’s electoral system. This ruling stemmed from allegations that he misused his position to cast doubt on the integrity of the democratic process in discussions with foreign officials.
As legal proceedings unfold, Brazil watches closely, with the case carrying major implications for the country’s political landscape and democratic stability.
