Brazil’s Attorney General’s Office has charged former President Jair Bolsonaro with attempting a coup d’état after his defeat in the 2022 elections, Brazilian media reported on Wednesday.
The charges also involve 33 alleged co-conspirators, including the creation of a criminal group and interference in democratic processes.
Prosecutors believe Bolsonaro was the leader of an organisation that tried to overthrow Brazil’s democratic regime. In total, the politician is charged with five counts.
Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet Branco said the indictment describes a conspiracy against democratic institutions. Prosecutor’s office documents state that the participants tried to prevent the approval of the election results, which were won by Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
The agency’s statement indicated that Bolsonaro knew of the plan to attempt to assassinate current Brazilian leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. According to law enforcement, a group of military officers planned to assassinate the politician as well as Vice President Geraldo Alckmin in December 2022.
In November 2024, charges against Bolsonaro for involvement in the plot against da Silva were filed by Brazilian police.
A total of 34 people have been charged in the case. The decision of the attorney general’s office is to be considered by the Supreme Court. If the petition is approved, Bolsonaro will become a defendant and will have to stand trial in the criminal case.
Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly denied the charges, claiming political persecution. Bolsonaru was the country’s president from 2019 to 2023, before being succeeded by da Silva. In January 2023, Bolsonaro’s supporters, who disagreed with his electoral defeat, staged protests and riots in the capital Brasilia. They attempted to seize government buildings. The protests were suppressed by the police and Bolsonaro left for the United States.
