The judges have begun to have their say in the trial against Brazil’s ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused, among other things, of abuse of power.
The first of the seven judges in the case voted Tuesday for a conviction.
The case concerns a televised meeting with foreign diplomats in July 2022 where Bolsonaro made unsubstantiated claims about security flaws in the country’s electronic voting system. The meeting was held in the middle of the campaign for the election later that year, where the far-right leader lost to the current president, left-wing politician Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Bolsonaro is suspected of abusing his position of power to undermine trust in the electoral system, and of having used state media for that purpose.
The ex-president used “heated statements and lies” during the appearance, Judge Benedito Goncalves said after casting his vote for conviction. The other judges cast their votes in turn during the week.
If Bolsonaro is convicted, he is likely to be barred from running in the 2026 election. However, he can appeal to Brazil’s highest court.