BRAZIL'S FORMER PRESIDENT JAIR BOLSONARO CONVICTED OF COUP ATTEMPT
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - A majority of Brazil's Supreme Court justices voted to convict former President Jair Bolsonaro on five counts related to a coup attempt following his electoral defeat in 2022. The historic decision marks the first time a Brazilian president has been accused of crimes against democracy.
According to court documents, Bolsonaro was found guilty of leading a conspiracy to overthrow the government and attempting to violently abolish the democratic rule of law. Prosecutors painted him as the orchestrator of the plot, which they alleged was carried out by a group of politicians and military officials who refused to accept his electoral defeat.
Bolsonaro's defense team has denied all charges, but the conviction is seen as a significant blow to the former president's reputation and legacy. "This decision marks a turning point in Brazil's democratic history," said Supreme Court Justice Luiz Fux, one of the justices who voted to convict Bolsonaro. "It sends a clear message that those who seek to undermine democracy will be held accountable."
The trial has been closely watched by Brazilians and international observers alike, with many seeing it as a test of the country's democratic institutions. The conviction is also seen as a significant setback for Bolsonaro's far-right movement, which had been gaining momentum in Brazil before his electoral defeat.
Bolsonaro faces 43 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for Friday. His eligibility to run for office again has already been suspended until 2030 due to previous corruption allegations.
The coup attempt was seen as a major threat to democracy in Brazil, where the country nearly returned to a dictatorship that lasted 20 years. "Brazil is a country that has struggled with authoritarianism and military rule," said Maria do Carmo, a leading Brazilian historian. "This conviction is a significant step forward for our democracy."
The trial's outcome is also being seen as a test of Brazil's judicial system, which has been criticized in the past for its handling of high-profile cases. The Supreme Court's decision to convict Bolsonaro on five counts is seen as a vindication of the country's democratic institutions.
As the trial comes to a close, many are left wondering what this means for Brazilian politics and democracy. "This conviction sends a clear message that those who seek to undermine democracy will be held accountable," said Supreme Court Justice Luiz Fux.
*Reporting by Motherjones.*
