Bolsonaro Convicted of Attempting a Coup by Brazilian Supreme Court Panel
BRASÍLIA, Brazil – A majority of a panel of justices on Brazil’s Supreme Court has convicted former President Jair Bolsonaro of attempting to orchestrate a coup following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election. The ruling, delivered Tuesday, marks a significant escalation in legal challenges facing the far-right leader adn threatens to further destabilize the politically divided nation.
The conviction stems from allegations that Bolsonaro and his allies sought to undermine the democratic transfer of power after he lost to current President Luiz inácio Lula da Silva. justice Alexandre de Moraes, overseeing the case, stated Bolsonaro was the “leader of a coup plot and of a criminal organisation” while voting to convict. Bolsonaro, who has denied any wrongdoing, did not attend the court proceedings, sending his lawyers in his stead. His legal team has announced plans to appeal the verdict to the full Supreme Court of 11 justices.
The trial has deeply fractured Brazilian society, with supporters and opponents of the former president clashing in the streets. The outcome also carries international implications, particularly with the United States. Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently linked a potential 50% tariff on Brazilian imports to Bolsonaro’s legal battles,labeling the case a “witch hunt.” Observers suggest further U.S. sanctions against Brazil are possible, possibly straining already fragile diplomatic relations.
Despite the conviction and a previous ban from running for office until 2030 in a separate case, Bolsonaro remains a powerful political force in Brazil. He is expected to designate a successor to challenge President Lula da Silva in next year’s elections. The current ruling may also spur Bolsonaro’s allies in Congress to pursue amnesty for him.
