The long-awaited outcome emerged as a parliamentary commission completed its inquiry into the attempted upheaval against Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. On Wednesday, in a vote with broad backing, the commission approved a final report that largely points to Lula’s predecessor as the instigator of the plot. The document identifies Jair Bolsonaro as the central figure behind the plan and maps a sequence of actions aimed at destabilizing Brazil’s democratic institutions.
Under the report, complaints will be sent to the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. There, prosecutors will assess the accusations and decide whether charges should be filed. This aligns with Brazil’s legal framework, where parliamentary inquiries can lead to formal judicial steps if prosecutors determine it appropriate.
The document places responsibility on Bolsonaro, a former Army captain, for offenses including unlawful association, political violence, attempts to undermine the rule of law, and the orchestration of a coup. The committee stresses a pattern of conduct that challenges the integrity of democratic processes and the functioning of state institutions.
Leading up to the report’s release, Bolsonaro rejected the lawmakers’ work. In a prepared statement, he argued there was no direct link between the former president and the acts under investigation. He criticized the impeachment proposal as partial and biased, contending that vandalism on social media was used as a political tool rather than a legal basis.
After months of examination, the commission asserted that Bolsonaro did not show any sympathy for democratic principles and that he attacked state institutions from the start. The findings suggest a deliberate effort to weaken the country’s constitutional order.
55 defendants
Bolsonaro, who later faced an eight-year ban from public office by Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court on grounds connected to alleged electoral interference, is not alone in facing consequences tied to the January 8 events. The parliamentary panel indicted an additional 55 individuals, including five former ministers from the administration that governed from 2019 to early this year, along with former Navy and Army commanders and other prominent figures associated with Bolsonarism. Among those named is a member of parliament who previously threatened a citizen with a firearm.
Supporters of Bolsonaro, notably members of the Liberal Party, have dismissed the report’s conclusions. They argue that Lula bears responsibility for the security lapses cited as enabling the January 8 incidents, claiming the current president’s oversight failures created conditions conducive to unrest.
The report frames a broader trend rather than a single incident, noting that road blockages by truck drivers and staged sit-ins near army facilities were part of the unrest. It also cites Bolsonaro’s public threats after Lula’s victory calling for military intervention, along with a draft decree found by authorities that hinted at a coup. The analysis highlights the role of misinformation, describing how fake news circulated by far-right networks amplified tensions.
Bolsonaro’s legal challenges extend beyond this inquiry. He was questioned by federal investigators in another matter involving a WhatsApp group of business leaders discussing a potential coup, and he chose to respond in writing rather than in person. The ongoing investigations touch on various controversies, including alleged misappropriation linked to jewels donated by Saudi Arabia, and concerns about the treatment of indigenous communities.
The parliamentary committee’s work runs in parallel with a broader Ministry of Justice inquiry that has processed hundreds of complaints related to the January 8 events. Officials have already secured sentences for several defendants, with penalties reaching up to 17 years in some cases. The case continues to unfold as the legal process moves forward and more evidence is reviewed.