November 22nd 2024.
In a recent development, Brazil's federal police have announced that they have indicted former president Jair Bolsonaro, along with 36 others, for allegedly attempting a coup to maintain his position of power after his defeat in the 2022 elections. According to the police, their findings have been sealed and will be delivered to the Supreme Court on Thursday. The court, in turn, will refer the case to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who will then decide whether to formally charge Bolsonaro and put him on trial, or dismiss the investigation altogether.
Bolsonaro, in an interview with the website Metropoles, revealed that he is awaiting his lawyer's review of the indictment, which reportedly spans over 700 pages. He also stated that he intends to fight the case and has dismissed the investigation as a result of "creativity". The former president, who is known for his right-wing views, has vehemently denied all allegations of attempting to remain in power after his narrow defeat to his rival, leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, in the 2022 elections. However, Bolsonaro has been facing multiple legal challenges since then.
The police, in a brief statement, also mentioned that the Supreme Court has agreed to release the names of all 37 individuals who have been indicted "to prevent the spread of misinformation". Apart from Bolsonaro, the list includes dozens of his former and current aides, such as General Walter Braga Netto, who was his running mate in the 2022 campaign, and Valdemar Costa Neto, the chairman of Bolsonaro's Liberal Party. His veteran former adviser, Augusto Heleno, and former Army commander General Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira are also among those indicted.
Besides the recent coup attempt, Bolsonaro has also been implicated in other cases, such as smuggling diamond jewelry into Brazil without proper declaration and directing a subordinate to falsify his and others' COVID-19 vaccination statuses. However, he has denied any involvement in these incidents. Additionally, a separate investigation found that he had abused his authority by casting doubt on the country's voting system, leading to a ban on him running for office until 2030.
Despite these legal challenges, Bolsonaro has maintained his stance of running for president again in 2026. His supporters have been encouraged by the recent election victory of former US president Donald Trump, despite the ongoing legal threats against him. However, on Tuesday, the Federal Police made a startling discovery when they arrested four military personnel and a Federal Police officer for allegedly plotting to assassinate Lula and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes in order to overthrow the government post the 2022 elections. And just last week, a man carried out a bomb attack in the capital city of Brasilia, attempting to enter the Supreme Court and ultimately ending his own life. These incidents have only added to the already tense political climate in Brazil.
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