Former President and 7 allies begin to be tried by the 1st Panel of the Court from Tuesday (2.Set) for attempted coup d’état
The trial that can lead, for the first time, to the conviction and eventual arrest of a former Brazilian president for tentative of coup d’etat It will start on Tuesday (2.Set.2025), in the 1st Class of the Supreme Court (STF). (PL) Divides the defendant bank with 7 allies, in the outcome of a process that already marks the history of the court.
Since redemocratization, the Supreme has dealt with cases of great repercussion, such as impeachment, the monthly scandal, the Lava Jato and the condemnation of (PT). None of them, however, involved the assessment of a president’s direct responsibility in an attempted rupture of the Democratic State.
The (Attorney General’s Office) accuses Bolsonaro of leading a criminal organization to undermine democracy. According to the complaint, he spread distrust about the electronic ballot boxes, tried to manipulate the result of the 2022 elections using the public machine and, after the failure of these actions, articulated with military an institutional rupture plan. The goal, according to PGR, was to remain in power, even if it implied arrests or murders of opponents, such as President -elect and Minister Alexandre de Moraes.
These conclusions, supported by investigations of the PF (Federal Police), will now be evaluated by the 5 ministers who make up the 1st class of the Supreme. Next, read the chronology of the main events that took Bolsonaro and his allies to the defendants.
INVESTIGATION
In November 2024, the Federal Police handed the STF the final report of an investigation that pointed out the existence of a criminal organization dedicated to keeping Bolsonaro in power after the 2022 election defeat.
The group, consisting of 37 people, would have worked in nuclei to discredit the electoral process, coerce authorities and shake the Democratic Rule of Law. The evidence was obtained over almost 2 years through breaks of telematic, telephone, banking and fiscal confidentiality, award -winning collaboration, searches and seizures, among other measures authorized by the judiciary.
The case came to the Supreme Court confidential, under the rapporteur of Minister Alexandre de Moraes, responsible for other processes related to the group. In November, confidentiality was withdrawn and the ones, which could offer complaint or request filing.
COMPLAINT
In February 2025, the PGR reported 34 of the 37 investigated for attempted coup. According to the agency, Bolsonaro headed the criminal organization, which planned murders of the president -elect and other authorities.
The plan, according to PGR, was approved by Bolsonaro even in the face of an official report of the Ministry of Defense that denied any electoral irregularity. The complaint also highlighted the intensification of Bolsonaro attacks on higher courts and the electoral system from 2021.
Opening of criminal proceedings
The Supreme Court accepted the complaint against 31 of the 34 defendants, making them defendants. The decision of the 1st Class considered that there was enough evidence to process them. Moraes stated that the investigated acts culminated in the attack of January 8, 2023, when extremists invaded the headquarters of the three powers in the federal capital.
The 31 defendants are responsible for attempted violent abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law, attempted coup d’état, participation in armed criminal organization, violence -qualified damage and serious threat to the union’s assets, as well as deterioration of listed assets.
Witnesses and defendants
From May to July 2025, the Supreme Court listened to 149 people nominated for prosecution and defense, as well as lieutenant colonel Mauro Cid (award-winning collaborator).
After the hearings, the defendants’ interrogations were performed. Nucleus 1, considered by PGR as “crucial” In an attempt to blow he heard 5 prosecution witnesses and 47 of defense.
Read below the summary:
Nucleus 1 (8 Defendants, including Bolsonaro)
- Lawyers: 38;
- witnesses Prosecution: 5;
- witnesses Defense: 47
- dropouts: 28 (1 accusation, 27 defense);
- written statements: two;
- Testimonials: May 19 to June 2, 2025;
- interrogations: June 9 and 10, 2025.
FINAL PHASE OF THE PROCESS
With the end of the interrogations, the Supreme Court opened a deadline for final allegations.
The PGR asked the Supreme for a blow attempt. According to the Attorney General of the Republic, Paulo Gonet, the former president “Figure as leader of the criminal organization […]as the main articulator, greatest beneficiary and author of the most serious executory acts aimed at the rupture of the Democratic Rule of Law ”.
Lieutenant Colonel Mauro Cid, whistleblower, on July 29, 2025. He asked to maintain the denunciation and acquittal, claiming only to witness the events. The other defendants, including Bolsonaro, delivered final allegations on August 13. Bolsonaro, he requested acquittal and the cancellation of the CID denunciation, classifying the accusation as “Absurd”.
JUDGMENT
The STF for September 2 The beginning of the judgment of the “core 1” of the attempted coup d’état. The president of the 1st class, Minister Cristiano Zanin, set the date after the delivery of the final allegations.
During the session, the rapporteur Alexandre de Moraes will present the report summarizing the tests. Gonet will support oral, followed by the defense, starting with whistleblower Mauro Cid. Then Moraes will present his vote, indicating conviction or acquittal and, if applicable, the penalty.
If convicted, Bolsonaro may receive a sentence of more than 40 years in prison, which will only be served after the final judgment, when there is no further appeal.
