In a historic decision, Brazil’s Supreme Court has voted unanimously for former President Jair Bolsonaro to face trial on charges of trying a coup after his 2022 general election loss.
The verdict, handed down Wednesday, was the first time a former Brazilian leader was to be tried for an attempt to stage a coup since the country moved to democracy in 1985. If convicted the 70-year-old far-right leader could receive over 40 years in jail.
Bolsonaro, who wasBrazil’s president between 2019 and 2022, is charged with heading a “criminal orgainzation” that attempted to cancel the outcome of the electiosn and hold onto power. According to investigators, after losing to leftist rival Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Bolsonaro’s supporters intended to issue a decree ordering fresh elections. They allegedly also plotted to kill President Lula, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has long been a critic of Bolsonaro. 
The five-judge panel voted 5-0 to go ahead with the trial, with Justice Moraes, who has called Bolsonaro a “dictator” in public, making the first findings in a televised hearing.
This trial makes Bolsonaro the second former Brazilian president to be tried in criminal proceedings in just over half-dozen years. In 2017, the ex-president Lula was found guilty of corruption.
As Bolsonaro gets ready for trial, Brazil readies for political fight that may make its democratic future.
