Brazil’s Attorney General’s Office has filed charges against former President Jair Bolsonaro, accusing him of orchestrating an attempted coup to overturn the 2022 election.
The charges, which require formal acceptance by the Supreme Court, follow recommendations from Brazil’s national police. Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet has also charged 33 others, citing offenses such as an attempted coup d’état, armed criminal organization involvement, and violent disruption of the rule of law.
A November police report alleged that Bolsonaro was actively involved in planning the coup alongside his supporters and was aware of a plot by soldiers to assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, his vice president, and a Supreme Court judge.
Bolsonaro has denied all accusations. His defense team expressed outrage, insisting he never engaged in actions to undermine democracy. His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, also dismissed the allegations, claiming there is no evidence against his father.
On January 8, 2023, Bolsonaro’s supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília, refusing to accept Lula’s victory, causing extensive damage.
Beyond the coup allegations, Bolsonaro faces additional legal troubles, including accusations of illegally selling luxury gifts received from Saudi Arabia and forging vaccination passports for himself, his family, and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has consistently denied all wrongdoing.
dpa/NAN
