The Supreme Court of Brazil began on Tuesday a historic and transcendental trial against former president Jair Bolsonaro for leading a criminal organization dedicated to trying a coup after his defeat in the presidential elections of 2022.
With positions that include the attempt to violently abolish the democratic state of law and damage to public heritage, Bolsonaro faces a possible sentence of more than 40 years in prison.
In the midst of this judicial process, the United States imposed 50 % punitive tariffs on Brazilian exports in clear retaliation for what it considers a “witch hunt” and a judicial interference against the ultra -rightist leader.
The process will culminate this Friday with the final vote of the five magistrates who will decide the political and legal future of the ex -president.
The criminal plot: a plot to perpetuate itself in power
The instructor judge Alexandre de Moraes, first magistrate to vote, clearly defined the criminal nature of the case by qualifying Bolsonaro as “leader of a criminal organization” who for months articulated a hierarchical plan to annul the democratic process.
According to the Court, Bolsonaro and seven coacked were at the forefront of a conspiracy that included the writing of illegal decrees, the planning of murders of key figures such as Lula da Silva, vice president Geraldo Alckmin and Judge Alexandre de Moraes, and instigated an escalation of violence that flowed into the historical vandalism of January 8, 2023 at the headquarters of the three powers of the three powers of Brasilia.
The formal accusation includes five main crimes: coup attempt, attempted violent abolition of the democratic state of law, belonging to armed criminal organization, qualified damage to public assets and destruction of protected assets.
Bolsonaro, 59 years old and in house arrest since August, maintains his innocence and affirms that he acted respecting the Constitution, although the evidences exposed in the Supreme Court present a forceful story of coordination and leadership in illegal actions to perpetuate themselves in power.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idl4i3ny67q
A decisive phase under pressure from Washington
The judicial process, which is lengthened with live -retransmitted audiences and has deeply polarized the Brazilian society, is also found in the international tensions center.
President Donald Trump denounced the trial as a “witch hunt” and has publicly supported Bolsonaro, a decision that led to impose 50 % tariffs on some Brazilian exports and the direct sanction of judicial officials linked to the case, including Judge Alexandre de Moraes.
Washington maintains warnings about the future of sanctions and has indicated its intention to apply new measures in defense of Bolsonaro.
The Brazilian finance minister Fernando Haddad, expressed uncertainty in the face of possible political and economic consequences, noting that Trump’s influence could generate new pressures on the development of the trial.
Deliberation and final verdict: expectation until Friday
Until Friday, the five members of the First Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court – Salaxandre de Moraes, Flávio Dino, Luiz Fux, Cármen Lúcia Antunes and Edson Fachin – must issue their votes to determine the guilt or innocence of Bolsonaro and its coacked.
A simple three magistrates will be sufficient to define a verdict that could condemn him to fulfill a penalty that accumulates up to 43 years in prison.
Meanwhile, in Congress and between the base of followers and militants of Bolsonaro, the calls grow to approve an amnesty that allows him to recover politically and present himself to the electoral contest of 2026.
This process represents an unprecedented event in Brazil and Latin America: a former president and several senior military commanders will account for justice for a declared attempt to undermine the democratic order through coup methods.
