Brazil's Supreme Court says Jair Bolsonaro should stand trial over alleged coup attempt

Brazil’s Supreme Court has accepted charges against former President Jair Bolsonaro over an alleged attempted coup to stay in office after his 2022 election defeat.

The five justices voted unanimously in favour of putting Bolsonaro and seven other allies on trial on five counts, including involvement in an armed criminal organisation and attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law.

The populist Bolsonaro, who swept to power after a shock win at the 2018 election, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and says he’s being politically persecuted.

Under Brazilian law, a coup conviction alone carries a sentence of up to 12 years. When combined with the other charges, it could potentially see Bolsonaro spend decades behind bars.

Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet said those facing charges sought to keep Bolsonaro in power "at all costs," in a scheme that accelerated after the far-right politician lost to current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the election.

As in his February indictment of Bolsonaro and 33 others, Gonet said part of the plot included a plan to kill Lula and Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who were put under surveillance by the alleged conspirators. The plan did not go ahead because at the last minute the accused failed to get the army's commander on board, he explained.

"Frustration overwhelmed the members of the criminal organisation who, however, did not give up on the violent seizure of power, not even after the elected president of the republic was sworn in," Gonet said.

That was a reference to the 8 January 2023 riot, when Bolsonaro's supporters stormed and trashed the Supreme Court, presidential palace and Congress in the capital Brasilia a week after Lula took office.

The Supreme Court is looking into whether to accept the charges against eight of the 34 people Gonet accused of participating in the coup plan.

Observers say that it’s likely that the charges will be accepted.

As well as Bolsonaro, the court will vote on the accusations faced by his running mate during the 2022 election and former Defence Minister Walter Braga Netto, ex-Justice Minister Anderson Torres and his aide-de-camp Mauro Cid, among others.

The court will decide on the fate of the others later.