Bolsonaro Refutes Coup Allegations During Court Appearance

In a court appearance, Bolsonaro maintained his stance against the coup accusation, describing it as an "abominable thing" and positioned himself as a constitutionalist who acted in line with legal norms, even as he faces serious charges related to the January 8th riots.

Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro has firmly denied any role in an alleged scheme to overthrow the current president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Speaking in court for the first time, Bolsonaro, who led Brazil from 2019 to 2022, described a coup as an "abominable thing," asserting that there was "never even a possibility of a coup in my government." He stands trial alongside seven other individuals, accused of inciting the storming of government buildings by his supporters on January 8, 2023—a week after Lula’s inauguration.

Bolsonaro, 70, could face significant prison time if convicted. Under questioning from Judge Alexandre de Moraes, he rejected the coup allegations, saying they were baseless. He stated, "On my part, on the part of military commanders, there has never been talk of a coup. A coup is an abominable thing." The former president insisted that Brazil should not experience such a crisis and stressed that he never contemplated a coup during his administration.

The legal proceedings delve into events following Lula's victory in the 2022 presidential elections, in which Bolsonaro lost narrowly. In the lead-up to the elections, he amplified false claims of electoral fraud, suggesting that discrepancies in electronic voting machines could justify questioning Lula's legitimacy. Responding in court, he insisted his skepticism about electronic voting systems was shared by others, claiming he acted within constitutional limits. "Many times I rebelled, I swear. But, in my opinion, I did what had to be done," he stated.

This trial, which commenced in May, involves five charges against the defendants, including attempting to orchestrate a coup and participating in organized criminal acts. Most co-defendants have denied these charges. Bolsonaro, a former army captain and proponent of former US President Donald Trump, continues to remain politically active despite being barred from public office until 2030 due to previous claims of electoral fraud. He aims to contest this ban with hopes of running for a second term in 2026.

Amid these allegations, he continues to assert his innocence, distancing himself from the January protests during which his supporters occupied government buildings in Brasília. At that time, he was in the United States and has consistently denied any connection to the events that unfolded.