The unprecedented conviction of a former President of the Republic for attempted coup d’état and violent abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law gained prominence in newspapers around the world
– demanding a military coup – they invaded and vandalized government buildings in the federal capital. The movement began shortly after the results of the 2022 elections were announced, with the aim of preventing elected president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from taking office.
Highways were closed and camps were set up in front of barracks in several cities across the country. They also marked the .
In September last year, by 4 votes to 1, the First Panel of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) convicted Bolsonaro and seven allies in the criminal prosecution of the coup plot. The unprecedented conviction of a former President of the Republic for attempted coup d’état and violent abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law had repercussions in the international press.
The American newspaper The New York Times printed the news on the main page of its online edition: “Brazil’s supreme court condemned former president for trying to cling to power after losing the 2022 election, including a plan to assassinate his opponent”, wrote the newspaper.
The English newspaper The Guardian also highlighted, on its main page, the result of the conviction of the former Brazilian president. “Brazil’s far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison for planning a military coup and trying to ‘annihilate’ the South American country’s democracy.”
The French Le Monde also published, in its online edition: “Former far-right leader found guilty of leading a ‘criminal organization’ that conspired to guarantee the continuity of ‘authoritarian government’, despite defeat in 2022. Defense will provide resources, ‘including at international level’”.
Another North American newspaper to highlight the conviction was The Washington Post, in an article published on the cover of its digital version. “THE of Brazil decided that the former president tried to reverse his defeat in the 2022 elections with a plan that included the assassination of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva”.
The newspaper El País, one of the largest Spanish-language daily newspapers on the planet, highlighted the STF’s decision prominently. “Brazil takes a transcendental step against impunity”, mentioning that “ultra-rightist Jair Messias Bolsonaro, a 70-year-old retired Army captain, was convicted in Brasília for leading a coup plot to not hand over power”.
In Argentina, Clarín wrote: “Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced this Thursday by the Federal Supreme Court to 27 years and three months in prison for conspiracy against the democratic order, following his defeat in the 2022 elections to current president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.”
In the Middle East, the Al-Jazeera network also highlighted the conviction of and his allies, citing the decisive vote of minister Cármen Lúcia, when announcing the formation of the majority. “Judge Cármen Lúcia stated that there is ample evidence that Bolsonaro acted ‘with the purpose of corroding democracy and institutions’”.
*With Agência Brasil
