Three ministers have already recognized the former president as leader of the 2022 coup plot, with divergence of Luiz Fux; Feathers can reach 43 years in prison
The first class of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) formed a majority on Thursday (11) to condemn former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and seven other defendants accused of planning an attempted coup d’état after the 2022 elections. It is the first time in the country’s history that a former president should be punished for this crime.
The score reached 3 votes to 1 after Minister Cármen Lúcia accompanied the rapporteur, Alexandre de Moraes, and Minister Flávio Dino, recognizing Bolsonaro as leader of the coup plot. Minister Luiz Fux opened divergence and voted for the acquittal of the former president. The last vote will be the president of the class, Cristiano Zanin.
The crimes
Most ministers understood that Bolsonaro and his allies should be convicted of:
- Coup d’etat
- Violent abolition of the democratic rule of law
- Criminal organization
- Damage qualified to the Union’s heritage
- DECLARED OF HERITAGE
In the case of Deputy Alexandre Ramagem, the tendency is to be acquitted of two crimes linked to damage to heritage.
Who are the defendants
In addition to Jair Bolsonaro, the list of accused includes:
- Walter Braga Netto -General, former minister and candidate for deputy on Bolsonaro’s plate in 2022;
- Mauro Cid -Lieutenant Colonel, former Assistant of Orders of Bolsonaro and whistleblower;
- Almir Garnier -Former Navy Commander;
- Alexandre Ramagem -Federal Deputy and former director of ABIN;
- Augusto Heleno -General and former Minister of the Institutional Security Office;
- Paulo Sérgio Nogueira -General and former Minister of Defense;
- Anderson Torres -Former Justice Minister.
Penalties under discussion
If the conviction is confirmed, the ministers will move to the dosimetry phase, when they define the individual penalty of each accused. The maximum sum of the punishments can reach 43 years in prison to Bolsonaro, due to the aggravating leadership of the criminal organization.
The complaint of the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) states that the group organized by Bolsonaro articulated, between 2021 and 2023, actions such as meetings, public speeches, documents and even a draft coup to prevent the possession of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT). For ministers who have already voted for the conviction, these evidence demonstrates a systematic attack on institutions and a concrete attempt at democratic rupture.
