Bolsonaro to Learn That No One Is Above the Law: Lula Da Silva

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. X/ @ContaratoSenado

February 20, 2025 Hour: 9:32 am

Currently, the far-right politician is one step away from facing up to 40 years in prison for staging a coup d’etat and other crimes.

On Thursday, Brazilian President Lula da Silva addressed the consequences of the charges filed by the Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday against former President Jair Bolsonaro and 33 others, who are accused of plotting to assassinate Lula.

“They will have the right to defend themselves and claim that it is a lie. But if the charges presented by the Prosecutor’s Office are proven, a conviction is the only solution. The Workers’ Party was persecuted for almost 50 years without having done even 10% of what former President Bolsonaro’s team tried to do in this country,” Lula stated, adding that he finds it “funny” that those accused of the attempted coup on January 8, 2023, are seeking amnesty.

“What I find funny is that these people are condemning themselves by requesting amnesty before even being tried. The first thing they should do is defend their innocence. By asking for amnesty before being judged, they are basically admitting their guilt. Just for that, they deserve to be convicted,” the Brazilian leader said.

When former President Bolsonaro “asks for amnesty, he is proving that he is guilty of committing a crime,” Lula explained, referring to efforts by right-wing parties to introduce an amnesty bill in the Brazilian Congress.

Mauro Cid confessou que Bolsonaro financiava motociatas com dinheiro público através do cartão corporativo. O esquema era tão absurdo que envolveu compra de motos, gastos para transportar os veículos para eventos em outros estados, além de hospedagem e alimentação da equipe de… pic.twitter.com/h6S0O5nFEu
— Lázaro Rosa 🇧🇷 (@lazarorosa25) February 19, 2025

The text reads: “Mauro Cid confessed that Bolsonaro financed motorcycles with public money through a corporate card. The scheme was so absurd that it involved the purchase of motorcycles, expenses to transport the vehicles to events in other states, and lodging and food for the entire team. The scammer spent four years campaigning and traveling with our money.”

So far, the Supreme Court has convicted nearly 400 people for crimes related to the invasion of the headquarters of the three branches of government in 2023.

“If they prove that they did not attempt a coup and that they did not try to kill the president, the vice president, and a Supreme Court judge, then they will be free to move throughout the country. If the judges conclude that they are guilty, then they must pay for the crimes they committed,” Lula said.

Currently, Bolsonaro is one step away from facing up to 40 years in prison for crimes such as attempting to violently abolish the Democratic Rule of Law, staging a coup d’etat, and organizing an armed criminal group. The defense teams of the far-right leader and the 33 others accused of participating in the 2023 coup attempt now have two weeks to present their arguments.