Brazil’s top court has said former president, Jair Bolsonaro, should go on trial for trying to stage a coup against his successor, Lula da Silva.

The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, said that Bolsonaro should go on trial, which could start as early as this year.

Seven other people were also named as co-conspirators with Bolsonaro, and will also likely go on trial with him, including a former defence minister and a former security minister. Bolsonaro’s supporters stormed federal government buildings in January 2023, a week after Lula’s inauguration, in an alleged attempt to overthrow Lula.

Bolsonaro, who was president from 2019 to 2023, said he was a victim of “political persecution”.


author