BRASILIA, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva affirmed Wednesday former President Jair Bolsonaro's right to a full legal defense following accusations related to an alleged coup attempt in 2022.
"As long as I am governing Brazil, everyone has the right to the presumption of innocence," Lula said at a news conference.
The prosecutor-general on Tuesday formally charged Bolsonaro and 33 others, accusing them of plotting to overthrow the government and form a criminal organization to block Lula's third term.
Bolsonaro's defense team has denied the allegations, insisting the former president "never supported any movement aimed at undermining democracy or its institutions."
"The trick of accusing democratic opposition leaders of plotting coups is not something new," Bolsonaro said on social platform X, calling the accusations "vague."
Lula said that if the accused can prove their innocence, they will be free. "But if the court finds them guilty, they will have to pay for the crime they committed."
The case will be presented to the Supreme Court for further legal proceedings.
Bolsonaro lost the October 2022 presidential election to Lula in a closely contested runoff. On Jan. 8, 2023, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings, including Congress, the presidential palace and the Supreme Court. ■
