In brief
In a landmark ruling, Brazil's Supreme Court has ordered that Jair Bolsonaro be tried for orchestrating a plot to retain power following his electoral defeat, including an alleged assassination scheme against the president-elect.
Former President Jair Bolsonaro has been ordered to stand trial for his involvement in a plan to undermine Brazil’s democracy following his loss in the 2022 elections. The Brazilian Supreme Court made the ruling on Wednesday, stating that Bolsonaro was part of a vast scheme aimed at overturning the election results, which included an assassination plot against the president-elect.Justice Alexandre de Moraes emphasized that there is strong evidence indicating Bolsonaro “knew, handled and discussed” attempts to stage a coup. The former president, along with seven associates—including his former running mate and a past intelligence chief—faces serious charges including “violent abolition of the democratic rule of law” and “coup d’état.”During the first day of a two-day hearing, Bolsonaro made a surprising appearance alongside his legal team but chose not to speak. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing, claiming that the charges are politically motivated. One of his attorneys, Celso Sanchez Vilardi, acknowledged the existence of a coup plot but insisted that no direct connection to Bolsonaro could be established. The trial represents a pivotal moment in Brazilian politics as the country grapples with the legacy of Bolsonaro's administration.
