The historic trial of the first time

The trial that begins this Tuesday, September 2nd, has unique characteristics in Brazilian history. For the first time, a former president of the Republic — Jair Bolsonaro — will be tried by the Supreme Federal Court on charges of attempted violent abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law, armed criminal organization, aggravated damage, and deterioration of listed public property.

For the first time, four-star generals and other high-ranking officers will be in the dock of a civilian court—and not the Supreme Military Court, as has always been the case in the past.

For the first time since 1937, the United States was decisive in preventing a coup d'état from succeeding in Brazil. While Washington's support was crucial in almost all previous coup attempts, in 2023 the explicit refusal of the Joe Biden administration was one of the central factors in the failure of the coup attempt.

The other side of the story

Brazil has witnessed military officers judging civilians in special courts, especially after the 1964 coup. What has never been seen before, however, is the reverse: uniformed generals and a former president in the dock of a civilian court, facing charges for crimes against democracy. Journalist Josias de Souza, in an article published on UOL, highlighted the “originality of the scene.” Indeed, national historiography usually portrays the military as protagonists of institutional ruptures, not as defendants in public trials. This shift is a landmark, a brake on Brazil's coup-mongering tradition.

The long tradition of military coups

The history of Brazil is marked by coups and attempted coups in which the Armed Forces played a central role. Often with the explicit or tacit collaboration of the United States, which always saw in Brazilian instability an opportunity to reaffirm its geopolitical influence on the continent.

That was the case in 1937, with the Estado Novo coup, established under the false "Cohen Plan," which benefited from the diplomatic benevolence of Washington. Uncle Sam preferred a strong ally in times of pre-war turbulence.

This was the case in 1945 with the overthrow of Vargas, when US pressure was decisive for the return to democracy. Uncle Sam did not accept alliances with dictatorships after the victory against Nazism and Fascism.

This was the case in 1964, with the military coup against João Goulart, the most emblematic episode of foreign interference. Washington orchestrated and financed the movement, prepared Operation Brother Sam, sending warships and fuel to guarantee the victory of the coup plotters.

This was the case in 1968 with AI-5, the coup within the coup -- with the tacit backing of the US, which offered diplomatic protection to the regime in the face of allegations of torture and human rights violations.

In 2023, on January 8th, the story was different. The American far-right linked to Donald Trump offered political support and ideological inspiration, but the Joe Biden administration acted in the opposite way. It sent two high-ranking messengers to Brasília to make it clear to the coup-plotting military that the US would not recognize a government resulting from institutional rupture.

Among the names mentioned in the press were Brian A. Nichols, Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, and Elizabeth Bagley, US Ambassador to Brazil from 2023. Although reported, there was no official confirmation that they were the bearers of the message. This explicit refusal by the White House was one of the main reasons for the failure of the coup attempt. If in 1964 the US supported the overthrow of a legitimate government, in 2023 it vetoed the authoritarian adventure.

The crimes on trial

The group that will be judged starting September 2nd faces four central accusations: Attempted violent abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law; Criminal organization; Aggravated damage; and Deterioration of listed public property – referring to the depredation of works of art and historical collections during the invasion of the Presidential Palace, the National Congress, and the Supreme Federal Court. These accusations constitute an unprecedented set of charges: a former president and generals being tried together, accused of crimes that directly harm popular sovereignty and the Democratic Rule of Law.

The trial and its symbolism

The Supreme Federal Court session goes down in history as a watershed moment. For the first time, those who tried to destroy democracy not only failed, but were also brought to justice.

If in 1964 the tanks won and the Constitution was torn up, now we see the opposite. The Constitution remains standing, and the coup plotters have become defendants. This trial could become a symbolic landmark as relevant as the Proclamation of the Republic or the 1964 coup—but for the first time in favor of democracy.

The Brazil of the future will be written from this court.

The trial of the coup plotters of January 8th is not just a judicial ritual. It is a historical lesson: the country will no longer accept military coups.

By bringing Bolsonaro and his generals before civilian judges, Brazil is sending the world the message that its democracy has matured enough to prosecute, punish, and turn the page on coups.

The image of four-star generals in the dock, side by side with a former president of the Republic, corrects the course of history: it inaugurates a new chapter.