Brazil: Prosecutors urge Supreme Court probe of Bolsonaro

Brazilian prosecutors on Friday called on the country’s Supreme Court to probe former President Jair Bolsonaro, after recent violent riots in the capital, Brasilia.

What do we know so far?

The Prosecutor General of the Republic (PGR) office said Bolsonaro may have “publicly incited the commission of a crime” with his social media activity.

The PGR cited a video posted by Bolsonaro on January 10, which sowed doubt over the result of Brazil’s recent presidential elections. Far-right Bolsonaro lost that race against leftist leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was sworn in as president on January 1 for a third term in office.   

The video was posted two days after Bolsonaro supporters on January 8 stormed the Planalto presidential palace, Supreme Court and National Congress in the capital.

Although the video was posted afterward, the PGR said it was evidence that justified “a global investigation of the acts performed before and after January 8, 2023 by the defendant.” Bolsonaro later deleted the video on January 11.

The PGR called on Facebook parent company Meta to preserve the election claim video posted by Bolsonaro. 

Brazil’s Lula vows justice for capital attack

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Bolsonaro distances himself from insurrection

Bolsonaro has said he is not responsible for the riots in Brasilia. The former president is currently in the southern US state of Florida.

Lula, however, blamed the insurrection on Bolsonaro and his “fanatic” supporters.

Prior to the presidential election last year, Bolsonaro suggested he would not accept the results if he lost. This sparked fears in the international community and domestically that Bolsonaro, an ex-military captain, would attempt a coup if Lula won.

Brazil previously witnessed an authoritarian military dictatorship from 1964 to 1985. 

wd/kb (Reuters, AFP)

Article source: https://www.dw.com/en/brazil-prosecutors-urge-supreme-court-probe-of-bolsonaro/a-64391278?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf