Brazil's Supreme Court sets Bolsonaro trial date on June 22

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
6 Jun 2023 11:34

The Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes announces that former President Jair Bolsonaro will face trial on June 22, and if convicted will be banned from running in the next Presidential election.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro gets into a car after speaking to the press outside his home after Federal Police agents carried out a search and seizure warrant in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, May 3, 2023. (AP)

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes announced on Monday that Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will face trial on June 22, 2023.

The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) accused Bolsonao of abusing his power to launch a systematic campaign against electoral courts and making empty claims targeting the reliability of the electronic voting system.

In a televised address at the Alvorada Palace, and in front of a dozen foreign diplomats, Bolsonaro made unfounded claims against Brazil's electronic voting system prior to a debate with Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in October of 2022.

Bolsonaro, who has been embroiled in a number of legal disputes since leaving office in January, will go on trial for those remarks given that the Democratic Labour Party (PDT) filed a legal complaint.

It is worth noting that Brazil's prosecution has backed Bolsonaro's trial, claiming that his statements during the meeting with foreign diplomats influenced voters' perceptions shortly before the presidential elections. Consequently, the false allegations targeting the voting system could have been a trigger for Bolsonaro supporters that have stormed Brazil's federal buildings and advocated for a military coup against the newly elected Lula.

If convicted, Bolsonaro will no longer be able to run for President in the upcoming election.

Bolsonaro denies allegations of involvement in Jan. 8 coup attempt

Earlier in April, Bolsonaro denied all allegations regarding his involvement in the January coup that shook Brazil and sought to overthrow his successor, the elected Lula da Silva.

At the time, Bolsonaro appeared before federal police for over two hours as he was being investigated at the headquarters in Brasilia.

While Bolsonaro left without making any comments, his spokesperson Fabio Wajngarten told the press that Bolsonaro had "repudiated all the unfortunate events that happened in Brasilia" during the January coup.