Supporters rally as Brazil’s Supreme Court convicts Jair Bolsonaro in a historic coup plot trial, marking a dramatic moment for the country’s democracy (Image Credit: AP)
Ex-Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro was convicted by a majority of Supreme Court magistrates for being part of a criminal organization linked to a conspiracy to coup, the first time a ex-head of state has been convicted of an attack attempt on democracy in Brazil.
Three of the five judges on panel voted to convict Bolsonaro, one acquitted him, and one justice is still to vote. The decision, already majority-strength, sends a devastating blow to the ex-Army captain who constructed a political career on defending Brazil's former military dictatorship.
Justice Luiz Fux dissented from the others by acquitting Bolsonaro, a decision that was greeted by triumph among the ex-president's base and fuelled speculation regarding potential appeals. Bolsonaro, who is disqualified from public office until 2030 on another electoral ruling, has frequently stated publicly that he plans to run for president in 2026. His conviction may further complicate Brazil's already strained political climate.
His wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, welcomed Fux's ruling as "a victory for coherence and justice" and claimed the majority of being involved in "persecution." In the meantime, US President Donald Trump, a close friend, condemned the ruling as a "witch hunt," retribution against Brazil with tariff increases and sanctions against the presiding judge.
Bolsonaro’s political rise began in the late 1980s after a stint as a paratrooper. Initially dismissed as a radical voice, he became infamous for inflammatory remarks, once declaring Brazil needed a “civil war” to kill thousands. Over time, he reshaped his message around anti-corruption and family values, finding traction during the massive “car wash” bribery scandal.
His own 2018 election win remade Congress, solidifying a conservative coalition that continues to spoil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's progressive agenda. But Bolsonaro's presidency was also met with global anger characterized by pandemic denial of COVID-19, record Amazon deforestation, and constant assault on Brazil's democratic electoral apparatus.
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The charge comes from testimony linking Bolsonaro to conspiracies to keep Lula out of office, such as reported conversations of poisoning Lula and his running mate. He is also blamed for fuelling the January 2023 riots, when thousands of his followers stormed government offices in Brasilia.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who led the inquiry, labelled the case a key defense of democracy against extremist forces. Historians contend the trial also represents a turning point for Brazil's armed forces, as it is the first time top officers including Bolsonaro's 2022 vice presidential running mate, General Walter Braga Netto have been sanctioned for coup plots.
"The verdict is an alarm call for the Armed Forces," historian Carlos Fico observed. "Brazil has taken a step into new territory where democracy finally defends itself."
