**Bolsonaro Faces Coup Charges as Brazil's Supreme Court Greenlights Trial**

The upcoming trial may jeopardize Bolsonaro's political future, as he claims political persecution while a federal investigation links him to a criminal organization intent on disrupting democracy.

Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro is set to stand trial for attempting to stage a coup against current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, as determined by a unanimous ruling from the Supreme Court. The panel, consisting of five judges, supported the initiation of the trial, which could commence within this year. Bolsonaro, who is 70, has refuted allegations that he attempted to impede Lula's inauguration, asserting that he is a target of "political persecution" designed to hinder his bid for the presidency in 2026.

The Supreme Court panel was convened to establish if sufficient evidence existed to warrant a trial. Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who presides over the panel, was the first to vote in favor, recommending trial not just for Bolsonaro but also for seven co-defendants described by the Attorney-General as "co-conspirators." The seven individuals facing charges alongside Bolsonaro include a former spy chief, military commanders, and a former security minister.

Bolsonaro, an admirer of former U.S. President Donald Trump, governed Brazil from January 2019 to December 2022 and faced a narrow defeat to Lula in the October 2022 elections, a result he never publicly accepted. Following his loss, many Bolsonaro supporters camped outside military barracks, hoping to convince the armed forces to block Lula's inauguration on January 1, 2023. A week later, rioters stormed government buildings in Brasilia in what authorities define as an attempted coup. The chaotic invasion led to the arrest of 1,500 individuals and left parts of the government structure damaged.

While Bolsonaro was in the United States during the unrest, he has consistently denied involvement and maintained that there was no organized effort behind the riots. Evidence unearthed during federal investigations pointed to a "criminal organization" that acted deliberately to maintain Bolsonaro's power. A detailed report released by investigators outlined that Bolsonaro was not just aware of the actions carried out but played a pivotal role in planning the coup.

In a more alarming revelation, the Attorney-General implicated Bolsonaro as a leader of the alleged criminal organization, asserting that the plot even involved assassination attempts against key figures, including poisoning President Lula and targeting Judge Moraes. Bolsonaro continues to reject these serious allegations, framing them as a strategy to undermine his political ambitions.

Currently barred from holding public office until 2030 due to previous claims regarding electoral fraud, Bolsonaro has challenged this ban to regain eligibility for the presidency in 2026. However, the Supreme Court’s recent decision introduces significant obstacles to his potential candidacy and political resurgence.