Bolsonaro Convicted: Brazil’s Judiciary Defends Democracy Against a Coup Attempt |
The conviction of Jair Bolsonaro and his top allies for plotting a coup marks a historic turning point in Brazil, as the judiciary asserts itself as guardian of democracy against authoritarian threats.
This time, however, the judiciary assumed a preeminent role in defending the rule of law, refusing the post-dictatorship pattern of “conciliation” and ensuring that those who plotted to subvert democracy were held accountable.
The Prosecutor General’s Office presented a robust case that convinced the majority of the Supreme Court justices to convict Bolsonaro and seven major figures, including three four-star generals. The central objective of the criminal organisation was to prevent Bolsonaro from handing over the presidency after losing the 2022 elections, and a structured organisation was created to achieve this aim.
Phase One: Discrediting the Electoral System
The first step in the attempted coup aimed to undermine public confidence in Brazil’s electronic voting system. Before the elections, civil society organisations, universities, and even the armed forces were invited to inspect the system for vulnerabilities—and found none. Dissatisfied with these findings, Bolsonaro pressured the Minister of Defence to alter their conclusions and summoned foreign ambassadors to question the credibility of the elections. These efforts, coupled with disinformation campaigns and fake news, sought to delegitimise the election outcome preemptively, creating a rationale to cancel elections in case of defeat.
A four-star general and the Chief Security Advisor were caught on camera saying, “We have to do something before the elections; afterwards it will be too late. If we have to upend the table, let’s do it.” In Brazilian military parlance, “virar a mesa”—literally “to turn over the table”—signals carrying out a coup or forcibly provoking regime change.
Phase Two: Post-Election Organisation and Threats
After losing to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the plot intensified. Bolsonaro’s network sought to prevent Lula’s inauguration, allegedly planning the assassination of the president-elect, his vice president Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The operation was codenamed “Punhal Verde-Amarelo” (Green-and-Yellow Dagger), invoking Brazil’s national........