A panel of five judges from Brazil's Supreme Court has begun considering whether former President Jair Bolsonaro and some of his closest associates should be tried for an alleged coup attempt after his 2022 election defeat, Reuters reported, BTA reports.
The judges are expected to decide by March 26 whether to proceed with the charges filed last month. Bolsonaro is accused of organizing a plot to overthrow the legitimately elected government. Analysts say the speed of the proceedings suggests the court could wrap up the case by the end of the year, avoiding a ruling on the eve of the next presidential election in 2026.
Despite the legal challenges, Bolsonaro has maintained his ambition to run for president again. In 2023, however, a federal electoral court banned him from holding public office until 2030 after he was found guilty of abuse of political power.
According to the indictment filed by Attorney General Paulo Gonçalves, the group led by Bolsonaro - a former army captain - sought to establish control over all three branches of government.
Bolsonaro's lawyers have said he has never supported actions aimed at undermining democracy or its institutions. Bolsonaro himself has described the case as politically motivated and has categorically denied any wrongdoing.
Despite a petition by his lawyers to have the case heard by the full Supreme Court (comprising 11 judges, two of whom were appointed by Bolsonaro), the request was rejected.
Bolsonaro and his associates are accused of five crimes, including violently attempting to overthrow the democratic rule of law, coup d'état, and damage to state property.
Investigators say part of the group's plan even included poisoning incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and assassinating Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes, who was overseeing the case.