Former Brazilian President Bolsonaro to stand trial on coup attempt charges

Bad news for former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro from the Supreme Court. The court's panel of five judges has unanimously decided to try Bolsonaro on allegations that he attempted a coup against current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

During the hearing, Justice Alexandre de Moraes shared footage of the raid on government buildings by Bolsonaro supporters in January 2023, one week after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office, describing it as an effort by Bolsonaro to discredit the elections he lost and to "reverse the result using violence" with the help of high-ranking military officials and politicians.

Bolsonaro, who served as president of Brazil between 2019 and 2022, denies the accusations against him. The Brazilian Superior Electoral Court, which banned Bolsonaro from politics until 2030 in June 2023 for abuse of power, claims that the case was opened to prevent him from running for president again in 2026.

While the case is expected to conclude within this year, Bolsonaro could face many years in prison if found guilty.