This Thursday, Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court began a trial that could remove former President Jair Bolsonaro from electoral politics for the near future, as pundits are certain he will be convicted and ruled ineligible for public office for the next eight years.
The case is related to the far-right leader’s clashes with Brazil’s electronic voting system, a renowned network that he constantly railed against during his time in office — claiming without proof that it was susceptible to fraud. But last July Mr. Bolsonaro went a step further, investing in these conspiratorial narratives in front of an audience of foreign ambassadors he had invited to his official residence, even asking them not to recognize Brazil’s voting results.
And the Brazilian courts thought enough was enough and put him on trial for abuse of political power.
The question now is whether Mr. Bolsonaro will survive politically. A conviction seems likely for several reasons, not least because the normally dour electoral courts have already brought the case to trial within six months of Mr. Bolsonaro leaving office, signaling their intent to punish.
The first session of the trial took place on Thursday, with the rapporteur, Judge Benedito Gonçalves, reading his summary of the case. The session was adjourned shortly after and will resume next Tuesday.
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