The Federal Supreme Court (STF) begins on Tuesday the final phase of the process of former President Jair Bolsonaro, accused of planning a coup to stay in power after losing the election of 2022.
The cause acquired international visibility after the President of the United States Donald Trump ranked the case as a “witches hunt” against his ally and considered Brazil to be considered by imposing a 50% rate on many Brazilian products exported to the United States.
Why is Bolsonaro tried?
Bolsonaro, who was president between 2019 and 2022, is accused of having blocked himself to remain in power after having failed in his attempt to re -election against the current president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
The prosecutor general, Paulo Gonet, accuses Bolsonaro to orchestrate a conspiracy that included a plan to poison Lula and his plate partner and kill the Minister of Stf Alexandre de Moraes, who supervised the 2022 elections as president of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE). Moraes is now the speaker of the case of the coup.
Bolsonaro denies any attempt to overturn Brazilian democracy, but recognized in a declaration that participated in meetings that have sought ways to reverse the result of the 2022 elections.
It is accused of five crimes: to participate in an armed criminal organization; attempted violent abolition of the state of democratic law; coup d’état; Damage qualified by violence and serious threat; deterioration of listed resources.
In his last topics last month, the lawyers of the former president said they were innocent in all five accusations.
The accusations are linked to the alleged role of Bolsonaro in January 2023, when thousands of his supporters invaded and vandalized the National Congress, the Palazzo Planalto and the supreme headquarters, in a dark echo of the invasion of the United States capital two years earlier by Trump’s supporters.
What will come after in the trial?
The first class of the Supreme Court, consisting of five ministers, should present its verdicts and phrases about the five accusations against Bolsonaro and seven of its allies during the sessions that take place between 2 and 12 September.
The class includes Moraes, the rapporteur of the case and four other ministers-Christian Zanin, former Lula lawyer, Flávio Dino, former minister of justice of the current government, Carmen Lúcia and Luiz Fux.
As president, Bolsonaro has appointed two Stf ministers who are currently not part of the first class.
Where will Bolsonaro be during the trial?
Bolsonaro is under home arrest in a fenced community at the top of Brasilia. One of his lawyers said it was not clear if the former president would participate in the Supreme Court sessions.
He wears an electronic ankle ordered by the Supreme and is under total surveillance after investigators have found a document that suggests that he may have considered to seek political asylum in Argentina – an accusation that his lawyers deny.
Since July, Bolsonaro has been forbidden to contact foreign authorities, use social media or approach the embassies.
What happens if Bolsonaro is sentenced?
Although the maximum combined penalty for the crimes of which Bolsonaro is accused can exceed 40 years, the lawyers provide for a minor sanction, noting that 40 years is the maximum prison sentence in the country. The condemned criminals usually meet reduced prison sanctions in Brazil.
The judgment in The Supreme is the last obstacle to Bolsonaro’s political career, who expressed his intention to manage the presidency again in 2026.
By 2023, the TSE became not admissible in 2030 in two beliefs for abuse of political power during its 2022 presidential campaign.
Source: Terra
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