Brazil Supreme Court Convicts Former President Bolsonaro Over Coup Attempt

Brazil's Supreme Court has convicted former President Jair Bolsonaro of attempting a military coup following his 2022 election defeat to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, marking the first time a former Brazilian president has been found guilty of such charges. The court's majority ruled that Bolsonaro orchestrated a plot involving disinformation, mobilization of supporters, and plans to annul election results and impose a Defense State, culminating in the January 8, 2023, riots aimed at forcing a military takeover. Bolsonaro faces five charges including violent abolition of democratic rule, coup d'état, and leading an armed criminal organization, with sentencing pending from the full Supreme Court panel. The conviction highlights the resilience of Brazil’s democratic institutions against authoritarian threats and sets a precedent that no leader is above the Constitution. Bolsonaro denies wrongdoing and remains under house arrest, while his lawyers intend to appeal the verdict. The case has also strained Brazil's international relations, with reports of interference attempts by former U.S. President Donald Trump, a close ally of Bolsonaro.