Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro denied masterminding a far-right coup plot at his supreme court trial but admitted to discussing 'alternative ways' of staying in power after his 2022 election defeat. He claimed these discussions, which included deploying military forces and suspending civil liberties, were within constitutional bounds and not an attempted coup.
Bolsonaro denies coup plot but admits discussing ‘alternative ways’ to remain president
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro denied masterminding a far-right coup plot at his supreme court trial but admitted to discussing 'alternative ways' of staying in power after his 2022 election defeat. He claimed these discussions, which included deploying military forces and suspending civil liberties, were within constitutional bounds and not an attempted coup.
Trending- 1 2022: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's election victory.
- 2 Monday: Trial began; Bolsonaro was the sixth defendant questioned.
- 3 Second half of the year: Trial verdict expected.
- 4 2026: Next presidential election (Bolsonaro joked about running mate).
- Bolsonaro is on trial for an alleged coup attempt
- Bolsonaro is already barred from running for office in a separate case
- High-ranking military officers facing trial for the first time over an attempted coup in Brazil
What: Jair Bolsonaro, former Brazilian president, is on trial for an alleged coup plot, denying masterminding it but admitting to discussing 'alternative ways' to remain in power after his 2022 election defeat, including military deployment and suspension of civil liberties.
When: Trial began Monday; Bolsonaro questioned for just over two hours; 2022 election (defeat); 2019-2023 (Bolsonaro's administration); 1964-1985 (dictatorship); 2026 (next election); second half of the year (trial verdict expected).
Where: Brazil (supreme court, presidential palace).
Why: Bolsonaro and his allies sought to overturn the results of the 2022 election after Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's victory, exploring options to keep Bolsonaro in power.
How: Bolsonaro admitted to discussions about 'alternative ways' within the constitution, such as declaring a state of siege, but claimed they were not pursued due to lack of 'climate' or 'solid base.' Former military chiefs opposed his plans. The prosecution's case is based on testimony from Bolsonaro's former aide-de-camp, Lt Col Mauro Cid, and federal police evidence.