Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and dozens of his supporters have been charged with attempting to stage a coup to overturn his 2022 election loss. Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet filed charges against Bolsonaro and 33 others, including former ministers and an ex-navy chief, accusing them of leading a criminal organization with an authoritarian project of power that harmed the democratic order.
This marks the first time Bolsonaro has been charged with a crime, and he is unlikely to be arrested before his trial unless deemed a flight risk. The charges come after a two-year federal police investigation concluded that Bolsonaro played a role in inciting riots in Brasilia in January 2023, following his election loss to leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in 2022.
The report by the police accused Bolsonaro and others of planning the violent overthrow of the democratic state, with several administration officials also implicated in the plot. Bolsonaro has denied breaking any laws and has accused his opponents of orchestrating a politically motivated witch-hunt against him.
Several court decisions have barred Bolsonaro from running for president in 2026, citing his conduct following the 2022 election. Additionally, in November, Brazilian police accused five individuals of planning to assassinate President Lula and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin before they took office in December 2022, with most of the suspects having military backgrounds or being close aides to Bolsonaro.
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