Brazil's top court to weigh accepting charges against Bolsonaro on March 25

A panel of five judges on Brazil's Supreme Court will gather on March 25 to decide whether they will accept or deny charges against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro for an alleged coup attempt, the court said on Thursday.

Last month, prosecutor General Paulo Gonet charged the far-right firebrand with leading a plot to overthrow the government and undermine the country's democracy after his 2022 election loss.

If the charges are accepted, Bolsonaro will then become a defendant and face a trial.

Apart from Bolsonaro, Supreme Court will also weigh on March 25 accepting charges against some of his allies, including former ministers of his government.

Bolsonaro and his lawyers have said he never supported any movement aimed at dismantling Brazil's democratic rule of law or the institutions that uphold it.