What's happened
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been formally indicted for allegedly attempting a coup to retain power after losing the 2022 elections. A police report details his involvement in a conspiracy with military officials to undermine democracy and assassinate political opponents. The Supreme Court is now reviewing the case for potential charges.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to AP News, the Federal Police's report states, 'the evidence collected throughout the investigation shows unequivocally that then-President Jair Messias Bolsonaro planned, acted and was directly and effectively aware of the actions of the criminal organization aiming to launch a coup d'état.' This aligns with findings from the South China Morning Post, which noted that Bolsonaro was 'fully aware' of an alleged assassination plot against Lula. The Independent echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the gravity of the accusations against Bolsonaro and the potential for significant legal repercussions. The contrasting views highlight the polarized nature of Brazilian politics, with Bolsonaro's supporters framing the investigation as a politically motivated attack.
How we got here
The indictment follows a lengthy investigation into Bolsonaro's actions after his electoral defeat in 2022. Allegations include collusion with military officials to claim election fraud and plans for violent actions against political rivals, including an assassination plot against President Lula.
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Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At 8.5 million square kilometers and with over 211 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area and the sixth most
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Jair Messias Bolsonaro is a Brazilian politician and retired military officer who has been the 38th president of Brazil since 1 January 2019.
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Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known as Lula, is a Brazilian politician and former union leader who served as the 35th President of Brazil from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2010.
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Alexandre de Moraes is a Brazilian jurist, currently a justice of the Supreme Federal Court.