Brazil's right wing former president Jair Bolsonaro and six co-accused appeared in the Supreme Court on Monday to undergo questioning on charges of trying to stage a coup to retain power after losing elections in 2022.

Prosecutors accused the 70-year-old far-right leader, who governed Brazil from 2019 to 2022, of leading a "criminal organization" plotting to overturn the election results and prevent leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva taking power.

The plot failed, the charge sheet says, because of a lack of military backing.

Bolsonaro also stands accused of having been aware of an alleged plot to assassinate Lula, his vice president Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes — an arch-foe.

Bolsonaro, who is hoping to make a comeback in 2026 presidential elections despite being barred from running, denies the charges. 

He and seven former aides face sentences of up to 40 years behind bars if convicted.

Bolsonaro and six of his co-accused were present in court Monday to take the stand in proceedings that can run until Friday. A seventh is taking part via videoconference from prison.

Although he has the right to remain silent, the former president told reporters he plans to respond "without any problem" to questions from the court.

"It's an excellent idea to speak openly about the coup. I will be very happy to have the opportunity to clarify what happened," the former army captain said last week.

"It's the moment of truth."

'Moment of truth'

The Supreme Court headquarters in Brasilia, where Bolsonaro will take the stand, is one of the government buildings raided by rioting supporters, known as "Bolsonaristas," in January 2023 as they urged the military to overthrow Lula. This was a last gasp after the alleged coup planning fizzled. 

Testimonies will be broadcast live.

Bolsonaro figures sixth on the list of witnesses and is expected to take the stand on Tuesday or Wednesday.

For the former president, the trial will mark a reunion with former allies and sworn enemies.

His co-defendants include former right-hand man Mauro Cid, who has been labeled a traitor by the Bolsonaristas for turning state's witness.

Cid's testimony allowed the police to identify various actors in the alleged coup plot and to lay hands on compromising information exchanges, according to the investigation. 

Four former ministers and the former heads of Brazil's navy and intelligence agency will also be taking the stand.

Bolsonaro will face questions not only from prosecutors and defense attorneys, but also judge Moraes, whom the former president calls a "dictator."

'History' in the making

The judicial process has been swifter than usual in this case, according to Rogerio Taffarello, a criminal law expert at the Getulio Vargas Foundation. 

But the end is still a way off, as the court can call new witnesses as the trial proceeds before closing arguments and sentencing deliberation. 

Since the alleged plot was conceived over a long period, and because some of the charges are new to the Brazilian system, "an extremely complex legal discussion" is expected, Taffarello told AFP.

Bolsonaro spent the weekend with his lawyers preparing his testimony at the residence of Sao Paulo state governor Tarcisio de Freitas, local media reported.

In a preliminary phase, Freitas, who served as Bolsonaro's infrastructure minister, testified for the defense, insisting his boss had "never touched" on the subject of a coup or "mentioned any attempt at constitutional disruption."

But two former army commanders said Bolsonaro had hosted a meeting where the declaration of a "state of siege" was discussed as a means to overturn Lula's election victory.

"Brazil's history will be written," Marcio Coimbra, head of the Casa Politica think tank told AFP of the trial. He said it marked the first for an attempted coup under a democratic regime in Brazil.

by Ramon Sahmkow