Two out of five Supreme Court justices tasked with deciding the fate of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro have found him guilty of plotting a coup.
However, Bolsonaro will only be officially convicted if at least one more justice votes against him, amid his denials of all charges.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes emphasized there was 'no doubt' regarding the presence of a coup attempt following Bolsonaro's loss to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the 2022 elections. Justice Flávio Dino agreed, finding the former president guilty on all five charges, with the trial scheduled to continue later.
The next session at 09:00 local time is critical, as Justice Luiz Fux will cast his vote. If he also votes guilty, a simple majority will convict Bolsonaro, who ruled Brazil from 2019 to 2022 and could face over 40 years in prison.
The charges stem from accusations that Bolsonaro led a 'criminal organization' focused on undermining democratic processes, culminating in the events where thousands of his supporters stormed Congress and other key government sites on January 8, 2023.
Bolsonaro, currently under house arrest due to health issues stemming from a stabbing incident in 2018, has insisted that the trial is politically motivated, aiming to bar him from future elections. His defense highlights perceived biases among the justices, linking them to Lula's administration.
As the trial unfolds, it continues to deepen the divisions among the Brazilian populace, with supporters rallying against the proceedings while critics stress the necessity of upholding democracy.
