Bolsonaro's trial is making headlines in the French press and is being described as a "historic process".

247 - The French press turned its spotlight on Brazil this Tuesday (2), the date marked by the start of Jair Bolsonaro's (PL) trial at the Supreme Federal Court (STF). According to RFIFrench newspapers and online portals are describing the process as a "trial of the century," highlighting that it is the first time a coup attempt in Brazil has officially reached the country's highest court.

According to Libération, the 12 ministers of the Brazilian Supreme Court have until September 12th to deliberate, in a process closely followed by the international community. The United States, under the government of current President Donald Trump, has already threatened to impose sanctions on Brazil. Since August 6th, Trump has imposed a punitive 50% surcharge on Brazilian export products, such as coffee, in defense of his political ally, denouncing what he called a "witch hunt," as Franceinfo recalled.

The newspaper Ouest France, the country's best-selling newspaper, and the conservative Le Figaro reported that Bolsonaro, who faces up to 43 years in prison, will not personally attend the trial. The economic daily Les Échos described the process as historic, but practically without suspense, considering conviction almost certain. Even so, the publication highlighted that the former president's political future still divides Brazil, a country marked by strong polarization.

Images from Reuters showed Bolsonaro supporters holding a vigil outside the condominium where the former president is under house arrest in Brasília, on September 1st. Meanwhile, the broadcaster CNews highlighted the tense atmosphere surrounding the trial, just before September 7th, an emblematic date for his political base.

In an interview with RFI, political scientist Christian Lynch, author of the book "Reactionary Populism: The Rise and Legacy of Bolsonarism," highlighted that, even with part of the right distancing itself from Bolsonaro, he still enjoys strong support among sectors of the population.

“In Brazil, what is happening is that the far right is emerging as a reaction to the consolidation of democracy and the appearance of new actors, sectors that were previously marginalized, people who had no visibility until the 1990s or 1994. We are observing the emergence of contingents of the black population, the emancipation of women,” Lynch explained.

According to him, this movement would be a kind of revolt by the traditional elites: "That's why they talk so much in the name of freedom: it's about the freedom to reject democracy in order to maintain control. It's the freedom of the master, the dominator, who doesn't want to give up his position."

According to the France24 network, the trial represents a symbolic and decisive moment for Brazilian democracy, testing the capacity of institutions to prosecute a former president. The analysis also highlights the leading role of the Judiciary in defending democratic balances.

Historian Maude Chirio, a specialist in Brazil interviewed by France Inter radio, believes the process reflects a democratic maturation, although Brazilian society remains fragmented. According to her, part of the moderate right sees Bolsonaro as an obstacle and advocates turning the page on this situation, aiming for the 2026 elections.

Follow the trial on TV 247: