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Brazil court starts hearing Bolsonaro appeal / Photo: Pablo PORCIUNCULA - AFP/File
Brazil court starts hearing Bolsonaro appeal
Brazil's Supreme Court on Friday began weighing former president Jair Bolsonaro's appeal against a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup after his 2022 election loss.
The far-right firebrand was found guilty by the same court in September of attempting to prevent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking power.
Prosecutors said the plan failed only due to a lack of support from military top brass.
In a note sent to AFP last week, the court said it will consider Bolsonaro's appeal in a virtual session from November 7 to 14.
Bolsonaro's lawyers have alleged "ambiguities, omissions, contradictions and obscurities" in his conviction.
Bolsonaro has been under house arrest since August. Under Brazilian law, he will not be sent to prison until all legal avenues are exhausted.
His lawyers are trying to get his sentence reduced, claiming they faced obstacles in mounting a defense during the trial.
If this is rejected, they could file another appeal, but the court could refuse to hear it.
In this case, 70-year-old Bolsonaro could go to prison.
Because of health problems stemming from a stabbing attack in 2018, Bolsonaro could ask to serve his sentence under house arrest.
In May, another former president, Fernando Collor de Mello, was given permission to serve his nearly nine-year sentence for corruption at home, on grounds of ill health.
Prosecutors say the plot at the heart of the case envisaged the assassination of Lula, his vice-president Geraldo Alckmin, and Alexandre de Moraes -- one of the five Supreme Court judges deciding Bolsonaro's fate.
The trial against Bolsonaro angered his ally, US President Donald Trump, who imposed sanctions on Brazilian officials and punitive trade tariffs.
However, in recent months tensions have thawed between Washington and Brasilia, with a meeting taking place between Trump and Lula and negotiations to reduce the tariffs.
An initiative from Bolsonaro supporters in Congress to push through an amnesty bill that could benefit him fizzled out after massive protests around the country.
Brazil's large conservative electorate is currently without a champion heading into 2026 presidential elections, in which Lula, 80, has said he will seek a fourth term.
D.Fraser--SMC
