O Supreme Federal Court (STF) This Monday (9) the interrogation of Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and seven other defendants of “Nucleus 1”Of the criminal action that investigates an alleged coup plan after the 2022 elections.
Interrogation is an essential stage of the criminal instruction phase, where new evidence is collected in the process. It will be held in person in the Plenary of the First Class, from 14h.
O It will be the first to testify, as determined by legislation for collaborating defendants. Then the other defendants will be heard in alphabetical order.
They will be asked about their personal life and whether the accusations made to them are true.
Among the questions, there should be questions about participation in meetings to articulate the coup plan, the draft decree that would install exception in the country, and about encouraging distrust at the electronic ballot boxes.
If they deny the accusations, the defendants may provide clarification, indicate evidence, present their version of the facts and counter the investigation elements.
They also have the right to be silent if the answer to a question can self -confirm them. This right is guaranteed by the Constitution.
Witnesses
In the last two weeks, the Supreme has heard more than 50 witnesses listed by the PGR and the defenses.
Most witnesses listed by Jair Bolsonaro (PL) reported that after the defeat in the elections, the former president was shot down but was willing to hand over to the new government.
OSenator and former Vice President Hamilton Mourão (Republicans-RS) and Senator Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI), former Minister of the Civil House, presented similar versions.
According to them, Bolsonaro was after the 2022 election. They denied any discussion about institutional rupture and said that he immediately agreed to begin the transition from government.
In the first week of testimonials, however, two witnesses – which were also listed by the Attorney General’s Office – confirmed that Bolsonaro evaluated exception measures and even discussed a draft to prevent the inauguration of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT).
Former army commanders Freire Gomes and Junior Baptist Air Force reported meetings in which studies were presented on the possible decree of the guarantee of law and order (GLO) or a state of defense. In one of them, according to the reports, the arrest of Minister Alexandre de Moraes was even considered.
Next Steps
The interrogation of the defendants is one of the last phases of processing the criminal action in the Supreme Court. When the interrogations, defense and prosecution will be closed, they will have five days to request complementary steps, ie new investigations or measures considered necessary. After this phase, they must submit their final allegations within 15 days.
Then the rapporteur minister of the case prepares his vote and releases the case for trial. Marked by the class president, Cristiano Zanin, the trial will decide on the conviction or acquittal of the defendants.
