Bolsonaro accused of coup attempt in Brazil
Brazil's Federal Police have formally accused former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others, including his vice-presidential candidate Walter Braga Netto, of attempting to orchestrate a coup following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election. The indictment includes charges of attempted violent abolition of democratic rule, coup d'état, and criminal organization.
The accusations follow a nearly two-year investigation into Bolsonaro's actions after his narrow loss to left-wing candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Police investigators claim to have uncovered evidence of a coordinated criminal organization working in 2022 to maintain Bolsonaro in power illegally.
Among those indicted are key figures from Bolsonaro's inner circle, including former spy chief Alexandre Ramagem and former ministers Anderson Torres and Augusto Heleno. The case will now proceed to the country's top prosecutor, who will decide whether to press formal charges.
The development coincides with the recent arrest of five individuals suspected of plotting to assassinate then president-elect Lula before his inauguration. This latest indictment adds to Bolsonaro's mounting legal troubles, which include accusations of tampering with Covid-19 vaccination records and involvement in an illegal scheme involving Saudi Arabian jewelry gifts.
Bolsonaro, who is currently banned from running for office until 2030 for undermining Brazilian democracy, has vowed to fight the accusations through legal channels.
The former president never publicly acknowledged his defeat and left Brazil for the United States two days before Lula's inauguration. His supporters' refusal to accept the election results culminated in the January 8, 2023, storming of Brazil's Congress, presidential palace, and Supreme Court building, leading to 1,500 arrests.
The indictment represents another significant obstacle for Bolsonaro's supporters, who had hoped to overturn his political ban in time for the 2026 presidential election.
