Law, Power, and Justice

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Brazil’s federal police say the former right-wing president, Jair Bolsonaro, attempted to launch a coup in 2022 to stay in office following his relection defeat. The police indicted 36 other people, as part of what they say was a criminal conspiracy working to keep Bolsonaro in power, after he lost the 2022 election to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Among the dozens allegedly part of the conspiracy are Bolsonaro’s former defense minister, who was also his vice-presidential running mate, and a number of former close aides. The Federal Police report called the coup an attempt to “violently dismantle the constitutional state”.

The nearly 900-page report now goes to Brazil’s Supreme Court to be referred to the attorney general who will decide whether to go ahead and try the former president.