Ione Wells

And so I think it's a very different context in Brazil and in other parts of Latin America, too, when people talk about the threat of a coup or calling for a coup, because that is for many people living memory for them.

And so I think it's a very different context in Brazil and in other parts of Latin America, too, when people talk about the threat of a coup or calling for a coup, because that is for many people living memory for them.

That's right. What's interesting as well, and maybe this is where we kind of rewind a little bit almost, because Jai Bolsonaro, it's thought, essentially saw opinion polls ahead of that election and almost started to roll the pitch a little bit for him not winning it.

That's right. What's interesting as well, and maybe this is where we kind of rewind a little bit almost, because Jai Bolsonaro, it's thought, essentially saw opinion polls ahead of that election and almost started to roll the pitch a little bit for him not winning it.

By doing things like casting doubt on the Brazilian voting system, he falsely claimed on state TV, for example, that Brazil's voting system was vulnerable to fraud.

By doing things like casting doubt on the Brazilian voting system, he falsely claimed on state TV, for example, that Brazil's voting system was vulnerable to fraud.

He essentially kind of accused the electoral system of not being fit for purpose, basically casting doubt on the democratic process in total, which that and his sort of undermining of democracy in doing that led to him being banned from running for office until 2013.

He essentially kind of accused the electoral system of not being fit for purpose, basically casting doubt on the democratic process in total, which that and his sort of undermining of democracy in doing that led to him being banned from running for office until 2013.

Although, interestingly, at the moment, there is a bill going through Congress in Brazil which could reduce the period of ineligibility from eight years to two years if somebody is, you know, if someone's received a conviction for abusing political or economic power from the electoral authorities in the way that Bolsonaro has.

Although, interestingly, at the moment, there is a bill going through Congress in Brazil which could reduce the period of ineligibility from eight years to two years if somebody is, you know, if someone's received a conviction for abusing political or economic power from the electoral authorities in the way that Bolsonaro has.

There is a sort of bill that is debating whether that ban should be reduced. Now, if that's passed... the ban that Bolsonaro is facing could potentially be shortened. But at the moment, he is not allowed to run for office by the time of the next election, which is expected next year in 2026.

There is a sort of bill that is debating whether that ban should be reduced. Now, if that's passed... the ban that Bolsonaro is facing could potentially be shortened. But at the moment, he is not allowed to run for office by the time of the next election, which is expected next year in 2026.

He's also faced numerous other legal accusations, accusations by police of faking his COVID vaccine certificate, of embezzlement. related to watches and jewellery received from Saudi Arabia. There's lots of different kind of legal challenges that he's faced but none of them so far have managed to sort of properly dampen his base or momentum really.

He's also faced numerous other legal accusations, accusations by police of faking his COVID vaccine certificate, of embezzlement. related to watches and jewellery received from Saudi Arabia. There's lots of different kind of legal challenges that he's faced but none of them so far have managed to sort of properly dampen his base or momentum really.

That's right. So as we discussed, obviously his supporters taking to the street to try and sort of physically overthrow power in those government buildings. Behind the scenes, the allegation is that Jair Bolsonaro was essentially plotting a coup in other means. There are various different allegations against him, including that he had conversations with leading members of the military to try and

That's right. So as we discussed, obviously his supporters taking to the street to try and sort of physically overthrow power in those government buildings. Behind the scenes, the allegation is that Jair Bolsonaro was essentially plotting a coup in other means. There are various different allegations against him, including that he had conversations with leading members of the military to try and

get them on side to overthrow President Lula. There were also even allegations that he planned to poison President Lula or assassinate one of the top Supreme Court judges, for example. So there is a whole host of crimes that... President Bolsonaro has now been charged with by the top prosecutor in the country. They include instigating a coup, posing serious threats to federal property.

get them on side to overthrow President Lula. There were also even allegations that he planned to poison President Lula or assassinate one of the top Supreme Court judges, for example. So there is a whole host of crimes that... President Bolsonaro has now been charged with by the top prosecutor in the country. They include instigating a coup, posing serious threats to federal property.

There are accusations as well that he may have encouraged, spurred on some of his supporters to do some of the acts that they subsequently did. And this is part of a

There are accusations as well that he may have encouraged, spurred on some of his supporters to do some of the acts that they subsequently did. And this is part of a