Former Brazilian President Accused of Attempting a Coup

On Thursday, December 1, Brazil's federal police charged Jair Bolsonaro, the former president of the country, and 36 others with attempting a coup to keep this far-right politician in power. Jair Bolsonaro lost the 2022 presidential election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Lula). Reuters noted that Bolsonaro had previously been barred from participating in the 2026 Brazilian elections due to another case, and if these charges are proven, he could face imprisonment. According to the report, Brazil's federal police stated that Paulo Gont, the country's attorney general, would decide based on the evidence in the indictment submitted to Brazil's Supreme Court on Thursday whether to formally charge and prosecute Bolsonaro or to order the end of the investigation. Local media reported that he is under pressure from his colleagues to continue the investigation into the former Brazilian president. Earlier, Brazilian officials announced on November 29 that the federal police had arrested five officers accused of plotting a coup to overthrow the government and assassinate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Lula), the president of Brazil. According to the Associated Press, this group also intended to kill Geraldo Alckmin, Lula's vice president, and Alexandre de Moraes, a Supreme Court judge in Brazil. Alexandre de Moraes, who issued the arrest warrants, stated that 'the goal was to prevent the establishment of a legally elected government and to undermine democracy and the authority of Brazil's judiciary.' The arrested individuals include four from a special operations unit, including a retired general and a federal police officer. The report indicates that it is still unclear when the charges against these five suspects will be formally presented. Lula assumed the presidency of Brazil after defeating Jair Bolsonaro, the far-right president, in the fall of 2022. Lula's inauguration ceremony in January 2023 took place amid protests from Bolsonaro's supporters, who demonstrated against the election results, blocking highways and camping around military facilities. On January 8 of that year, thousands of protesters attacked government buildings in Brasília, the capital of Brazil, demanding his removal from power. According to the Associated Press, based on the results of investigations that led to the arrest of retired General Mário Fernandes on Tuesday, this officer played a key role in linking Bolsonaro's supporters. Mário Fernandes served during the last two years of Bolsonaro's presidency. The indictment against Bolsonaro was initiated by the Brazilian Senate due to his government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Anti-government protests in Brazil called for Bolsonaro's resignation. The Brazilian police arrested five officers on charges of attempting a coup and assassinating Lula. The Senate's investigative committee stated that Bolsonaro committed 'crimes against humanity' in his management of the pandemic. The Brazilian parliament opposed the president's proposed plan to change the electoral system. YouTube removed videos of the Brazilian president for spreading misinformation about the coronavirus.