"This week, Brazil's Supreme Court is expected to rule in the case of the far-right former President Jair Messias Bolsonaro, who is on trial for plotting a coup against his elected successor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Although Bolsonaro denies any wrongdoing, there is considerable evidence that he conspired to overturn Lula's Presidency-by violence, if necessary-and it seems likely that he will be found guilty."
"Bolsonaro is under house arrest, surrounded by guards to prevent him from fleeing to a foreign embassy to request asylum. His cellphone has been confiscated, and he is required to wear an electronic ankle bracelet. He has refrained from attending the trial sessions, blaming his absence on spasmodic hiccups and episodes of vomiting. Still, he has an ally in Donald Trump, who has championed Bolsonaro as "a Highly Respected Leader throughout the World,""
"There are undeniable similarities between the two men, but they are less flattering than Trump intends. Like Trump, Bolsonaro spent years insisting that his country's electoral system was rigged-except when he won. And, like Trump, he summoned an insurgency to overturn the results when he lost. After Lula was elected, in October, 2022, Bolsonaro's followers gathered outside Army barracks, urging the military to intervene."
Brazil's Supreme Court will rule on charges that Jair Messias Bolsonaro plotted a coup to overturn Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's presidency. Prosecutors present evidence of plans to use violence to subvert the 2022 election, and conviction could carry up to forty-three years in prison for Bolsonaro and seven alleged co-conspirators, including former senior military officers. Bolsonaro remains under house arrest with guards, an electronic ankle bracelet, and a confiscated cellphone, and has avoided court appearances citing spasmodic hiccups and vomiting. Donald Trump publicly defended Bolsonaro and labeled the prosecution a "Witch Hunt." Both men repeatedly alleged election fraud and mobilized supporters to challenge results.
Read at The New Yorker
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