Brazil's military prosecutors have filed formal charges seeking the expulsion and loss of military rank for former President Jair Bolsonaro and several other military officers implicated in the 2022 coup plot, marking an unprecedented step in holding a former head of state accountable through military justice channels.
The charges, filed with Brazil's Superior Military Tribunal (STM), represent the military justice system's response to allegations that Bolsonaro and allied officers conspired to prevent the democratic transition of power following his electoral defeat to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in October 2022.
If successful, the action would strip Bolsonaro of his captain's rank earned during his military service—a core element of his political identity that he leveraged throughout his rise from Rio de Janeiro congressman to the presidency. The former president frequently invoked his military background and maintained close ties with the armed forces throughout his political career.
The military prosecutor's petition addresses conduct unbecoming of military officers and alleged violations of military discipline and hierarchy. The charges stem from the broader federal investigation into the January 8, 2023 riots in Brasília, when Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in an attempt to overturn the election results.
In Brazil, as across Latin America's giant, continental scale creates both opportunity and governance challenges. This case represents a critical test of Brazilian democratic institutions—the military justice system holding accountable not just any officer, but a former commander-in-chief who built his political brand on military credentials.
The move by military prosecutors carries particular significance in a country where military dictatorship ruled from 1964 to 1985, and where concerns about military loyalty to democratic processes have periodically resurfaced. For decades, Latin America struggled with military impunity, making this potential accountability mechanism especially notable across the region.
Legal experts note that the military charges proceed on a separate track from civilian criminal investigations. Bolsonaro already faces multiple criminal inquiries in civilian courts related to election fraud allegations, abuse of power, and the coup plot. The federal police concluded their investigation and recommended charges in late 2025, though the Attorney General has not yet filed formal indictments.
The Superior Military Tribunal's decision could take months or years to resolve. If convicted, Bolsonaro would lose not only his rank but also military pension benefits tied to his service. The symbolic impact, however, may prove even more significant—stripping away the military identity that anchored his political movement and resonated with millions of Brazilian voters.
Political analysts in São Paulo and Brasília emphasize that military accountability for alleged democratic subversion would set a powerful precedent for Latin America's largest democracy. The region has witnessed multiple instances where former leaders escaped meaningful consequences for authoritarian actions, creating patterns of impunity that weakened democratic consolidation.
Bolsonaro has consistently denied wrongdoing and characterized the multiple investigations as political persecution. His supporters in Congress continue to defend him, though his political influence has diminished since leaving office. The former president is currently barred from running for office until 2030 due to a separate electoral court ruling regarding abuse of power.
The military prosecutors' action demonstrates that Brazilian democratic institutions are functioning across multiple fronts—civilian and military justice systems both responding to alleged threats to constitutional order. For observers of Brazilian democracy and regional politics, the case represents a defining moment in determining whether accountability mechanisms can overcome historical patterns of elite impunity.
