Lawyers for Jair Bolsonaro are set to present their defense at the Supreme Court in Brasília on Wednesday. Bolsonaro, who served as Brazil’s president from January 2019 to December 2022, faces accusations related to an attempted coup following his electoral defeat in 2022 against Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The presiding judge has suggested that Bolsonaro aimed to establish a “veritable dictatorship” after losing the election.
Bolsonaro has refuted the allegations, claiming the trial is a politically driven “witch hunt.” He did not attend the session on Tuesday, which began the trial’s final phase, citing health issues. The 70-year-old former president has faced ongoing health challenges since being stabbed during the 2018 campaign.
The Supreme Court’s panel of five justices is expected to deliberate and reach a verdict by September 12. If convicted, Bolsonaro could face a prison sentence exceeding 40 years. The prosecution, led by Brazil’s prosecutor-general Paulo Gonet, has outlined multiple charges against Bolsonaro and seven alleged co-conspirators, including leading an armed criminal organization and attempting to violently abolish democratic governance. These charges have been denied by the accused.
The origins of the allegations can be traced back to the actions of Bolsonaro’s supporters, who stormed government buildings on January 8, 2023. An extensive investigation indicated that the planning for these actions started as early as 2019. Authorities also claim Bolsonaro had prior knowledge of a plot to assassinate Lula and his running mate, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
One of the defendants, Mauro Cid, a former top aide to Bolsonaro, has agreed to a plea bargain, offering evidence in exchange for a lighter sentence. Prosecutors suggest that some of the most critical evidence against Bolsonaro has come from Cid’s cooperation, despite his lawyer asserting that the plea deal was not made under duress. Bolsonaro’s legal team plans to directly address the statements made by Cid’s counsel during the proceedings.
As the trial progresses, the justices will vote on the defendants’ fates, requiring a majority of three out of five votes for a conviction. Convicted defendants have the option to appeal to the full Supreme Court.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce83881001eo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss