Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro and 33 others have been charged with plotting to violently overturn his 2022 election loss. The charges were filed by Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet, accusing Bolsonaro of leading a criminal organization with an authoritarian project to regain power. This marks the first time Bolsonaro has been charged with a crime, adding to his political woes as he tries to make a comeback.
The charges stem from a federal police investigation that concluded in November, finding Bolsonaro and his supporters responsible for riots in Brasilia following the election loss to leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The riots saw Bolsonaro’s supporters storming government buildings in a manner reminiscent of the 2021 Capitol insurrection in Washington, DC.
Bolsonaro, who denies any wrongdoing, has faced additional legal challenges with court decisions banning him from running for president in 2026. The investigation also revealed a plot to assassinate President Lula and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin before taking office in December 2022, involving military personnel with special forces training and close aides to Bolsonaro.
The charges against Bolsonaro and his associates highlight concerns about the stability of Brazilian democracy and the rise of authoritarianism in the country. The case will now proceed to trial in Brazil’s Supreme Court, where Bolsonaro’s fate and the future of the country’s political landscape will be decided.
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