Topline
Brazilian authorities on Tuesday charged Jair Bolsonaro, the country’s former president, over allegations he plotted a coup to overturn his loss in the country’s 2022 presidential elections, which included a purported plan to poison his rival and successor President Lula da Silva.
In Brasilia, Brazil, on February 18, 2025, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro speaks to the … [+]
Key Facts
Brazil’s Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet named Bolsonaro and 33 other people in a 272-page indictment that alleged the former president and his allies had drawn up a plan called “Green and Yellow Dagger” to “bring down the system of the powers and the democratic order.”
Gonet’s office described the alleged coup plotters as a criminal organization and said the group was led by Bolsonaro, his vice presidential candidate and others, including civilians and military personnel.
According to the indictment, the alleged plot included a plan to kill Lula, the winner of the 2022 election and Brazil’s current president, by poisoning him, and shooting Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes—who is overseeing the case against Bolsonaro.
The prosecutors say the coup plot began in 2021, “with systematic attacks on the electronic voting system” and verbalizing unsubstantiated claims of fraud in the electronic ballots “to prepare the international community for the disrespect of the popular will in the presidential elections.”
Bolsonaro is also accused of mobilizing security forces during the second round of the elections to prevent people from voting for Lula.
The prosecutors said the mob attack on the federal government buildings in Brasilia on Jan 8, 2023, after Lula’s inauguration, was the “organization’s” final attempt to wrest power by encouraging the mobilization of a “group of people in front of the Army Headquarters in Brasilia, calling for military intervention in politics.”
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Chief Critic
Bolsonaro’s son Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves in the Brazilian Senate, dismissed the charges in a post on X, saying there was “absolutely NO PROOF” of a coup attempt. He then claimed the prosecutor-general’s investigation was, “fulfilling its unconstitutional and immoral mission to serve the liver of Alexandre de Moraes and the nefarious interests of Lula, who is in his last months as president.”
Key Background
The right-wing leader and former president has repeatedly denied the allegations against him and has referred to the investigation into his actions as a political witch hunt. Before the charges were made public, Bolsonaro told reporters that he had “zero” concerns about the accusations and added: “Have you seen the coup decree, by any chance? You haven’t. Neither have I.” Bolsonaro narrowly lost the 2022 election against Lula, but did not publicly concede. While the members of his administration began the transition process with Lula’s team, the former president’s supporters blockaded key roads in the country in protest—claiming without evidence that the election results were fraudulent.
What To Watch For
Brazil’s next presidential election is set for 2026, but Bolsonaro has been barred from running next year by the country’s Federal Electoral Court.
Section Title
Ex-Brazilian President Bolsonaro Targeted In Coup Probe: Here’s What To Know (Forbes)
Biden Denounces ‘Assault On Democracy’ In Brazil As More Than 400 Arrested Following Jan 6-Style Attack (Forbes)
