Brazil’s democracy on trial as Jair Bolsonaro faces justice

Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro and seven of his allies, including four senior military members, have gone on trial for allegedly attempting to stage a coup to topple the country’s democracy.

This marks the first time in Brazilian history that such powerful figures have faced justice for seeking to undermine democracy.

Bolsonaro, a far-right populist who governed from 2019 to 2023, stands accused of masterminding a failed power grab after losing the 2022 election to leftist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The trial, expected to last two weeks, will be decided by five supreme court judges who will determine the fate of Bolsonaro and his co-defendants.

If found guilty, they face decades in jail for their alleged roles in the unsuccessful plot. Historian Danilo Araújo Marques notes that this trial is unprecedented and historic, highlighting the maturity of Brazil’s institutions and democracy.

“This truly is unprecedented and historic,” Marques said, adding that Brazil’s democracy is “going through an acid test and it’s possible it will come out of this strengthened.”

In a surprising move, US President Donald Trump has attempted to sabotage the trial with an unprecedented pressure campaign, slapping 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports and sanctioning Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who is presiding over the case.

Trump’s actions have thrown US-Brazil relations into disarray, with analysts calling it a clear case of political intervention. “It’s a political intervention with an economic cudgel,” said Thomas Shannon, a former US ambassador to Brazil.

Shannon believes Trump’s objective is to scupper Bolsonaro’s prosecution and allow him to challenge Lula in next year’s presidential election.

However, Shannon also notes that Trump’s actions may ultimately harm Bolsonaro’s case. “It shows such a cartoon-like understanding of Brazil – and I think what the president is doing at the behest of the Bolsonaros is actually going to harm the Bolsonaros in a really significant way.”

Lula, on the other hand, has used Trump’s offensive to position himself as a patriot defending Brazilian interests. He has even started wearing a blue cap with the words “Brazil belongs to the Brazilians.”

Bolsonaro’s co-defendants include high-ranking officials from his administration, such as former defence ministers Gen Walter Braga Netto and Gen Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira, and former navy commander Adm Almir Garnier Santos.

They are accused of conspiring to launch a pro-Bolsonaro coup between the October 2022 election and the far-right uprising in Brasília on January 8, 2023. Bolsonaro denies plotting a coup but admits seeking “alternative” ways to stop Lula from taking office.

The trial is seen as a significant moment for Brazil’s democracy, with the country’s institutions and judiciary playing a crucial role in determining the outcome. As Marques notes, “this is an important cycle that is closing,” referring to Bolsonaro’s decade-long rise and fall.

However, he adds that “the future is full of surprises,” and even if Bolsonaro is convicted, new chapters could still be written in his story.

The trial of Jair Bolsonaro and his allies marks a landmark moment for Brazil’s democracy. The outcome will have significant implications for the country’s future and its ability to hold its leaders accountable.

As the world watches, Brazil’s institutions and judiciary will play a crucial role in determining the fate of Bolsonaro and his co-defendants. With the stakes high, one thing is certain – the trial will be closely watched, both domestically and internationally.

The trial of Jair Bolsonaro and his allies has sparked intense debate in Brazil, with supporters of the former president claiming he is being politically persecuted.

However, a recent Datafolha poll found that over half of Brazilians support the decision to place Bolsonaro under house arrest, while 53% reject the idea that he is being unfairly targeted.

The Supreme Court will deliver its verdict on the five charges against Bolsonaro, which include attempting a coup, participation in an armed criminal organization, and attempted violent abolition of the democratic order, between September 2 and 12. If convicted, Bolsonaro faces up to 12 years in prison.

The case has drawn international attention, with US President Donald Trump intervening on Bolsonaro’s behalf and imposing tariffs on Brazilian imports.