Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was voted out of office two years ago, with current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva taking his place.

This week saw an indictment that accused Bolsonaro and 36 aides of attempting to illegally remain in power via a coup. 

Prosecutor to decide whether case will go forward

According to the Associated Press, the accusations were brought on Thursday by federal police, who delivered it to Brazil's Supreme Court.

The country's highest judicial body then proceeded to pass the findings on to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who will decide whether to pursue the charges.

Among those listed was Bolsonaro's former running mate, Gen. Walter Braga Netto, former Army commander Gen. Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira, former Bolsonaro advisor Gen. Augusto Heleno, and Valdemar Costa Neto, who serves as chairman of Bolsonaro's Liberal Party.

The election-related allegations come four months after police asserted that Bolsonaro was involved in smuggling diamonds from Saudi Arabia.

What's more, a panel of judges concluded in June that the former president had broken the law by casting doubt on his election loss and barred him from running for office again until 2030.

Political scientist expresses doubts about Bolsonaro's political future

Nevertheless, the Associated Press noted that Bolsonaro is planning to run in the next presidential election, with his supporters taking encouragement from the reelection of Donald Trump.

The news service also pointed out how Bolsonaro's legislative allies are negotiating a pardon for pro-Bolsonaro demonstrators who stormed Brazil's capital and may seek a similar pardon for the former president.

BREAKING: Brazil’s federal police indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 other people on charges of attempting a coup to keep him in office after his electoral defeat in the 2022 elections. https://t.co/TRvr1495Z3

— The Associated Press (@AP) November 21, 2024

However, Carlos Melo works as a political science professor at Insper University in Sao Paulo, and he expressed doubts concerning Bolsonaro's political future.

"Bolsonaro is already barred from running in the 2026 elections. And if he is convicted he could also be jailed by then," Melo told the Associated Press.

Brazil's current president was previously convicted on corruption charges

"To avoid being behind bars, he will have to convince Supreme Court justices that he has nothing to do with a plot that involves dozens of his aides. That's a very tall order," the professor added.

Brazil's current president has his own history of legal problems stemming from when he governed the country between 2003 and 2010.

Although Lula was given a 12-year sentence after being convicted of corruption, the BBC reported in 2021 that his conviction was annulled.