Former Brazilian President Bolsonaro Charged With Alleged Coup Plan

JAKARTA - Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday charged with leading plans to overthrow the government and undermine state democracy after his defeat in the 2022 general election, complicating his narrow chances of resurgence in the world of politics.

The indictment comes after a two-year police investigation into the Election rejection movement culminating in unrest by Bolsonaro supporters in the capital in early 2023, a week after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office.

Attorney General Paulo Gonet has indicted the extreme right-wing figure and General Walter Braga Netto, on charges of leading a "criminal organization" that wants to create a new order in the country, including plans to poison President Lula.

A total of 34 people were charged in the plan, including several military officials, such as former Bolsonaro national security adviser, retired General Augusto Heleno to former Navy Commander Almir Garnier Santos, according to the indictment.

"Responsibility for actions that harm the democratic order is borne by criminal organizations led by Jair Messias Bolsonaro, which is based on authoritarian power projects," he added.

Lawyers representing Bolsonaro said in a statement on Tuesday that his client had never supported any movement aimed at breaking Brazil's democratic rule or the institution that enforced it.

Meanwhile, analysts believe it is unlikely Bolsonaro will be arrested before his trial, except Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees the case, considers it a risk of escaping.

Prosecutors said the plan led by Bolsonaro included plans to poison President Lula, a former union leader who previously served as president for two terms.

Lula defeated the far-right candidate in the final presidential election in 2022.

"They are trying to fully control the three branches of government; they describe the headquarters that will serve to regulate the new order they want to establish," the indictment document noted, referring to those suspected of pushing the coup plan.

The indictment against Bolsonaro comes just months after Brazil's federal police completed a two-year investigation into its role in the election rejection movement culminating in riots by its supporters that hit the capital, Brasilia, in early 2023, a week after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office.

At that time, many protesters admitted they wanted to create chaos to justify the military coup they thought was imminent.

Late last year, police arrested five people suspected of being conspirators suspected of planning to kill left-handed Lula before he took office.

Bolsonaro, who is a former army captain, has repeatedly denied violating any law, calling his accusations of hunting down his political opponents.

The indictment on Tuesday marked the first time Bolsonaro has been charged with a crime, although he has faced several legal challenges over his behavior as president since he lost the re-election.

Two previous decisions by Brazil's Federal General Election Court have blocked him from running for president until 2030.

Bolsonaro's lawyers had two weeks to respond to the allegations before the Supreme Court ruled whether to accept the allegations and could potentially hold a dramatic trial broadcast on television.

If found guilty, Bolsonaro faces at least a dozen years in prison.

"There is a 99 percent possibility that the Supreme Court will accept the allegations," said Vera Chemim, a constitutional lawyer in Sao Paulo.

"However, to punish Bolsonaro, the Supreme Court requires strong evidence," he said.

Separately, former vice presidential candidate Bolsonaro, General Braga Netto, was arrested two months ago after police accused him of interfering in an investigation.

In a statement late Tuesday, his lawyers called the allegations "fantation" that would not erase his "undisturbed history" for his four decades of service in the Brazilian Army.

The Supreme Court's ruling could mark an irreversible obstacle to Bolsonaro's hopes of running for the 2026 presidential election, in a potential rematch against Lula.

A 2010 law passed by Bolsonaro himself when he was a member of Congress banned anyone convicted by an appeals court from running for office.

Two sources close to Bolsonaro said the former president had little hope that the court would decide according to his wishes.

Instead, his allies hope to mobilize political support to increase pressure on courts and lawmakers to pave the way for recovery efforts.