Brazil’s top prosecutor has called upon the Supreme Federal Court to convict former President Jair Bolsonaro of attempting a coup following the 2022 presidential elections. Bolsonaro, a conservative leader, lost the presidency to left-wing candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, commonly known as Lula.
In a 517-page document submitted on Monday, Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet accused Bolsonaro and seven others of participating in an “armed criminal association” aimed at “violently overthrowing the democratic order.” The prosecutor contended that Bolsonaro never acknowledged his defeat and spread false claims of electoral fraud. According to the document, while serving as the highest office in the land, Bolsonaro abused governmental resources in a deliberate campaign to attack public institutions and undermine the succession process.
The prosecutor filed these coup charges in the wake of the January 8, 2023, attacks on Brazil’s key governmental buildings by Bolsonaro’s supporters, mere days after Lula’s inauguration. Bolsonaro, formerly an army officer, has previously voiced approval of Brazil’s military dictatorship between 1964 and 1985. Brazil’s federal police have linked Bolsonaro to a potential military takeover attempt in relation to the 2022 elections.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes now faces the decision on these charges. Bolsonaro and his co-defendants, if convicted, could face up to 40 years in prison, with a verdict anticipated in September.
Bolsonaro denies the accusations, calling them a “witch hunt” and asserting his commitment to democracy and the constitution. Former US President Donald Trump, who has also faced legal charges related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, voiced his support for Bolsonaro, calling him “not a dishonest man.” In response to the charges against Bolsonaro, Trump threatned tariffs on Brazilian goods. This statement prompted Lula’s government and Brazil’s business sector to express strong opposition.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/brazil-prosecutor-urges-bolsonaro-be-found-guilty-of-coup/a-73289894?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
