Bolsonaro faces uncertain political future as Brazil trial starts
Al JazeeraJun 07, 2023
Brazil: Bolsonaro Banned From Running for Office Until 2030
story
Image copyright: Agência Brasil/Flickr [via Wikimedia Commons]
The Facts
Brazil's top electoral court ruled on Friday that former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro had abused his power as president by deliberately undermining faith in the country's voting systems — blocking him from seeking public office until the 2030 election.
The seven-judge voted against Bolsonaro at the end of a swift noncriminal trial that consisted of justices who delivered their analysis before voting, with brief comments from the defendant's legal team.
The Spin
Left narrative
While this ruling alone will not remove the threat to the Brazilian democracy posed by the far-right "bolsonaristas," this is indeed an encouraging step ahead to promote national reconciliation and restore faith in institutions. Bolsonaro has long attempted to undermine Brazil's democratic establishment — casting ill-founded doubts over the country's voting machines, insulting Supreme Court justices, and emboldening his coup-mongering supporters. Hopefully, his ban will open the way for moderate contenders on the right.
Right narrative
You don't have to be a Bolsonaro supporter to see that Lula is using the judicial system as a means to punish his predecessor. Lula is a leftist career politician who was convicted on corruption charges before they were stunningly reversed by activist judges. Right-leaning figures across the nation are being censored, and checks and balances are being curtailed as the legal system is increasingly used as a weapon against opponents. We ought to be skeptical about charges against Bolsonaro in this environment.
