Brazil confronts ex‑president Bolsonaro in historic coup‑plot trial
Bolsonaro and military allies face trial in Brasília for allegedly orchestrating a coup after his 2022 defeat — democracy’s resilience is under the spotlight.
BRAZIL – COUNTRY OVERVIEW
📌 Country: Brazil
📌 Population (+ rank in the world): approximately 214 million (6th)
📌 GDP (+ rank): about US $2 trillion (9th)
📌 Government Type: federal presidential republic
📌 Lower Chamber (seats): Chamber of Deputies (513 seats)
📌 Lower Chamber Term in Office (in years): 4 years
📌 Party/Coalition in Power (ideology and political position): Workers’ Party (Centre‑Left)
📌 Unemployment Rate (+ world rank): ~8 % (mid‑range)
📌 Youth Unemployment Rate (+ world rank): ~20 % (mid‑range)
📌 Population Below Poverty Line (+ world rank): ~20 % (mid‑range)
The trial that shakes Brazil’s foundations
▫ What: Brazil has opened a trailblazing trial — for the first time since the end of the military dictatorship, a former president stands accused of leading a coup attempt. Jair Bolsonaro and seven of his closest military and civilian allies face charges of attempted coup, organising a criminal organisation, and other serious offences.
▫ Where & When: The trial began on 2 September 2025 at Brazil’s Supreme Court in Brasília. It will stretch across several extraordinary sessions on 2, 3, 9, 10 and 12 September, all broadcast publicly. Five Supreme Court justices, among them Alexandre de Moraes and Cristiano Zanin, will decide the verdict.
▫ Who: The defendants include ex‑President Jair Bolsonaro; former Defence Ministers Generals Walter Braga Netto and Paulo Sérgio Nogueira; former Navy Commander Admiral Almir Garnier Santos; ex‑security chief Anderson Torres; spy chief Alexandre Ramagem; and Bolsonaro aide‑de‑camp Lt. Col. Mauro Cid — the only one to have struck a plea deal with prosecutors.
▫ Why & How: Prosecutors accuse Bolsonaro and his allies of crafting plans to annul his 2022 electoral loss, supported by military sectors — culminating in the 8 January 2023 invasion of Brasília’s government buildings. Evidence includes intercepted messages, meetings plotting the coup, and a draft decree intended to override election outcomes.
▫ How much: If convicted on all counts, defendants face decades behind bars — possible sentences range from over 30 to over 40 years in prison.
Global flashpoints and domestic stakes
U.S. ex‑President Donald Trump has intervened, branding the trial a “witch‑hunt,” levying 50% tariffs on Brazilian exports, and sanctioning Justice Alexandre de Moraes. His actions have inflamed tensions, drawing backlash from observers who label it a politically driven misstep.
Domestically, President Lula frames the trial as a defence of national sovereignty. Security forces have ramped up protection around Bolsonaro’s residence, as supporters are expected to stage Independence Day rallies.
Why it matters
This trial marks a watershed — not only a legal reckoning but a symbolic break from Brazil’s legacy of impunity for powerful military figures. Even convictions might not settle the polarisation, but the historic accountability could redefine Brazil’s democratic norms. As historian Danilo Araújo Marques put it, “our democracy is going through an acid test… It’s possible it will come out of this strengthened.”
The trial marks a pivotal chapter in Brazil’s emerging democracy.
GOING FURTHER
Jair Bolsonaro faces justice over alleged attempt to usurp Brazilian democracy | THE GUARDIAN
Supreme Court to start Bolsonaro trial on September 2 | AGENCIA BRASIL
Brazil confronts military officers accused of plotting a coup in historic trial | ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brazilian justice opens Bolsonaro’s trial with a swipe at Trump | WASHINGTON POST
What to know about the verdict and sentencing phase of Bolsonaro's trial in Brazil | THE INDEPENDENT
Trump tariffs goods from Brazil at 50%, citing ‘witch hunt’ trial against country’s former president | ASSOCIATED PRESS
