Former Brazilian President Accused of Attempting a Coup
Former Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro faces allegations of conspiring to assassinate a political opponent and orchestrating a military coup. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Brazil’s prosecutor general has filed charges against former President Jair Bolsonaro for allegedly attempting a coup to remain in power following his 2022 election defeat. Among the accusations is a scheme to assassinate his successor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Lula, who narrowly defeated Bolsonaro in October 2022, took office again in January 2023 for a third, non-consecutive term. After the election, Bolsonaro contested the results, claiming there was a “malfunction” that impacted many electronic voting machines, asserting that the election had been stolen from him.
On Tuesday, Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet stated that Bolsonaro and his running mate, General Walter Braga Netto—who was arrested on Saturday—were at the helm of a “criminal organization” intending to seize control of the nation, as reported by AP. Additional allegations include plans to poison the current president and to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
According to Gonet’s 272-page indictment, which was reviewed by the news agency, “The plan was conceived and taken to the knowledge of the president [Bolsonaro], and he agreed to it.”
Reports indicate that a total of 34 people have been charged in connection with the plot, which includes several military officials, such as Bolsonaro’s former national security adviser, retired General Augusto Heleno, and former Navy Commander Almir Garnier Santos.
Bolsonaro's legal team has refuted the charges, expressing their shock and anger over the allegations. They maintain that the former president “has never agreed to any movement aimed at deconstructing the democratic rule of law or the institutions that underpin it.”
These recent charges emerged following a two-year police investigation into the election-denial movement, which culminated in riots by Bolsonaro’s supporters in the capital shortly after President Lula assumed office in early 2023.
During the riots, Bolsonaro was in the U.S., but he subsequently called for an end to the turmoil and supported the transition to Lula’s administration. He is currently barred from holding public office in Brazil until 2030.
In November, federal police issued a report that implicated Bolsonaro in planning and organizing an attempted coup, alleging he proposed the coup to key military officials to obstruct Lula from taking office.
Analysts cited by Reuters suggest that Bolsonaro is unlikely to face arrest before the trial unless Supreme Court Justice Moraes, who is overseeing the case, determines that the former president poses a flight risk.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
Lula, who narrowly defeated Bolsonaro in October 2022, took office again in January 2023 for a third, non-consecutive term. After the election, Bolsonaro contested the results, claiming there was a “malfunction” that impacted many electronic voting machines, asserting that the election had been stolen from him.
On Tuesday, Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet stated that Bolsonaro and his running mate, General Walter Braga Netto—who was arrested on Saturday—were at the helm of a “criminal organization” intending to seize control of the nation, as reported by AP. Additional allegations include plans to poison the current president and to assassinate Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
According to Gonet’s 272-page indictment, which was reviewed by the news agency, “The plan was conceived and taken to the knowledge of the president [Bolsonaro], and he agreed to it.”
Reports indicate that a total of 34 people have been charged in connection with the plot, which includes several military officials, such as Bolsonaro’s former national security adviser, retired General Augusto Heleno, and former Navy Commander Almir Garnier Santos.
Bolsonaro's legal team has refuted the charges, expressing their shock and anger over the allegations. They maintain that the former president “has never agreed to any movement aimed at deconstructing the democratic rule of law or the institutions that underpin it.”
These recent charges emerged following a two-year police investigation into the election-denial movement, which culminated in riots by Bolsonaro’s supporters in the capital shortly after President Lula assumed office in early 2023.
During the riots, Bolsonaro was in the U.S., but he subsequently called for an end to the turmoil and supported the transition to Lula’s administration. He is currently barred from holding public office in Brazil until 2030.
In November, federal police issued a report that implicated Bolsonaro in planning and organizing an attempted coup, alleging he proposed the coup to key military officials to obstruct Lula from taking office.
Analysts cited by Reuters suggest that Bolsonaro is unlikely to face arrest before the trial unless Supreme Court Justice Moraes, who is overseeing the case, determines that the former president poses a flight risk.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
