Facing charges of attempted coup, Bolsonaro accelerates his travels around Brazil to maintain political influence.

247 - After becoming a defendant on charges of leading an attempted coup in 2022, Jair Bolsonaro (PL) will intensify his travel schedule throughout Brazil in an effort to maintain his prominence on the right. This move, according to the newspaper... The GlobeThis begins this week, amidst a process that could compromise his presence in the 2026 elections, as well as his leadership in the right and far-right political spectrum. 

Bolsonaro will be in Paraná this Thursday (4), where he will meet with local political leaders. On Friday (5), he will go to São Paulo, where he will stay until Saturday, the day he will participate in an event on Avenida Paulista. Then, he will accompany Senator Rogério Marinho (PL) on engagements in Rio Grande do Norte, on April 10 and 11.

According to leaders of the Liberal Party, these events—with the exception of the mobilization in São Paulo, which was already planned—were brought forward in response to the unanimous decision of the First Panel of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), which indicted him for attempted coup. For the PL leaders, it is urgent that Bolsonaro maintain the mobilization of his electoral base and react to the rise of new conservative leaders who threaten to occupy his political space.

The plan includes a series of visits to densely populated municipalities in at least eight Brazilian states. The proposal aims to reinforce Bolsonaro's image alongside allied mayors and governors, highlighting supposed achievements of his presidential administration, with a special focus on regions where he lost electoral strength. The Northeast, according to the PL's own website, is a priority. The expectation is that the former president will dedicate one week to each region of the country until the end of the semester.

In addition to attempting to delegitimize the Supreme Federal Court (STF) with speeches alleging "political persecution," Bolsonaro intends to exploit the recent drop in President Lula's (PT) approval ratings as a political trump card. This tactic had already been planned, but will be accelerated due to the accusations he faces.

The ongoing criminal case in the Supreme Court could change the course of the Brazilian right. For the first time in the country's history, a former president will be tried for conspiring against democratic institutions. If convicted, the sentence could reach 43 years in prison. The trial threatens not only his freedom but also his influence in the presidential succession.

In a press statement after becoming a defendant, Bolsonaro stated that the accusation was "serious and unfounded," attributing the process to "the creativity of some." Repeating attacks on the electoral system, one of the practices described by the Attorney General's Office (PGR) in the indictment, he again defended printed ballots and accused Minister Alexandre de Moraes, the case's rapporteur at the Court, of "hiding" the motivation for making him a defendant.

The Supreme Federal Court (STF) still has to analyze four other indictments related to the attempted coup. In total, 34 people have been accused by the Attorney General's Office (PGR) of attacking democratic institutions. The next phase of the trial, scheduled for April 8th and 9th, involves the so-called "tactical actions" core, composed of low-ranking military officers who allegedly participated in the coup attempts.