Process: Brazilian ex-president Bolsonaro may lose voting rights Honduras: Police say massacre in women’s prison with 46 dead was a direct attack

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro could lose his right to vote for alleged abuse of office. A corresponding procedure against the right-wing ex-president, who was in power from 2019 to 2022, began on Thursday before the Supreme Electoral Court in the capital Brasília. If Bolsonaro is defeated, he could be ineligible for eight years and thus excluded from the 2026 presidential election.

The attorney general in charge of the electoral law accuses Bolsonaro of casting doubt on Brazil’s electoral system during a televised meeting with foreign diplomats last July. He has not provided any evidence for this. “He turned the meeting into a campaign event. Speech of this nature does not fall under freedom of speech,” Deputy Attorney General Paulo Gonet said.

Bolsonaro’s lawyer rejected the allegations. According to a report by TV Globo, Tarcisio Vieira de Carvalho said that the debate on the electoral system should not be taboo in a democracy. Bolsonaro just wanted to help improve the electoral system. The trial continues next week. After the verdict, both parties can still appeal against the verdict. (sda/dpa)