Brazil's Supreme Court has authorized the formal charges against former President Jair Bolsonaro and seven co-defendants for their alleged involvement in an attempted coup following the 2022 presidential election.

The court's First Chamber reached a unanimous decision to proceed with the indictment after a request from the Attorney General's Office.

Bolsonaro, who was in office from 2019 to 2022, is accused of attempting to obstruct the inauguration of his successor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, after Lula's electoral victory in October 2022.

The charges, filed on February 19, cite multiple offenses, including the formation of an 'armed criminal organization.' Prosecutors claim that this group plotted to assassinate Lula, his vice president, and a Supreme Court justice, while also attempting to violently dissolve Brazil's democratic state.

Should he be convicted, Bolsonaro faces a maximum penalty of over 40 years in prison.

In total, 34 individuals were indicted alongside Bolsonaro, including several former ministers and high-ranking military officials, accused of conspiring to prevent Lula from taking office.

The prosecution alleges that crucial military leaders did not support the coup, ultimately thwarting its execution.

Bolsonaro has consistently denied the charges, asserting that he is a victim of what he describes as 'the largest political-legal persecution in Brazil's history.' Although he has expressed intentions to run for president again in the 2026 elections, his current legal challenges pose significant obstacles, particularly as Brazil's electoral authority has prohibited him from holding political office until 2030 due to his unsubstantiated claims regarding the integrity of the electronic voting system.

Following Lula’s victory and subsequent inauguration on January 1, 2023, Brazil witnessed violent protests fueled by Bolsonaro's supporters, who stormed critical government locations such as Congress, the presidential palace, and the Supreme Court, resulting in extensive damage.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes of the Supreme Court remarked that the alleged criminal organization actively sought to destabilize the democratically elected government but failed due to military leaders' withdrawal of support for the coup attempt.

The protests drew international attention, drawing comparisons to the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, which had involved supporters of former President Donald Trump in their refusal to accept the 2020 election results.

Bolsonaro has been referred to as 'Tropical Trump' due to parallels in rhetoric and governance style.

Alongside him, others facing charges include former community services chief Alexandre Ramagem, former Justice Minister Anderson Torres, and former Defense Minister Braga Netto.

They are similarly accused of forming a criminal organization and planning a coup, although they have also rejected the allegations.

As the legal proceedings move forward, both the prosecution and the defense will have opportunities to present evidence and call witnesses.

The Supreme Court will ultimately decide the fate of the defendants in this high-profile case.

In addition to the coup-related allegations, Bolsonaro faces other legal challenges, including accusations of illegally selling jewelry and luxury watches received as official gifts during his official state visit to Saudi Arabia, which he has denied.

Investigators are also looking into claims that he falsified vaccination cards during the COVID-19 pandemic for himself, his family members, and staff.