GUWAHATI: Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro was formally charged on Tuesday for allegedly orchestrating a plan to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election, according to reports on Wednesday, February 19. The indictment marks another legal setback for the far-right leader.
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Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet reportedly filed charges against Bolsonaro and 33 others, including several of his former ministers and an ex-Navy chief, with Brazil’s Supreme Court. The indictment accuses Bolsonaro of leading a “criminal organisation” aimed at undermining democracy in pursuit of authoritarian rule.
Despite the serious allegations, Bolsonaro is unlikely to be arrested before trial unless Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is handling the case, considers him a flight risk, as per reports.
The charges come after a two-year federal police investigation into his involvement in the election-denial movement, which culminated in the January 2023 riots in Brasilia—just a week after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office following his narrow victory over Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro, a former army captain, has consistently denied any wrongdoing, dismissing the accusations as a politically motivated attack by his opponents. His lawyer has yet to respond to requests for comment.
This indictment deals another blow to Bolsonaro’s already uncertain political future. While it is the first time he has been formally charged with a crime, he has faced multiple legal challenges since leaving office. Two previous court rulings have already barred him from running for president in 2026, further diminishing his chances of making a political comeback.
