International press highlights gravity of the complaint against Bolsonaro

The complaint of the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) against Jair Bolsonaro and 33 other allies reverberated on Wednesday (19) in the international press, which highlighted the severity of accusations of attempted coup and criminal organization.

Vehicles such as The New York Times, The Guardian e The country They analyzed the political impacts of the complaint, scrutinized the crimes committed by Bolsonaro and compared the situation of the former Brazilian president with that of Donald Trump in the US. Foreign governments follow the consequences of the case, while the extreme global right is divided between silence and support for Bolsonaro.

The international repercussion of the complaint against Bolsonaro reinforces the severity of the accusations and places Brazil at the center of the debate on democracy and political extremism. Foreign press coverage highlights both the immediate impact of the case and its long -term developments, especially in the context of the rise of the global far right.

The lawsuit against the former president may not only redefine the Brazilian political scenario, but also to serve as a reference for investigations against populist leaders in other parts of the world.

What the main international newspapers say

The New York Times (USA):

• Bolsonaro classified as leader of a “vast scheme” to undermine confidence in Brazilian democracy and described the accusations as a late response to the January 8 attack.
• He emphasized that the complaint follows the recommendations of the Federal Police and that the Federal Supreme Court still needs to assess whether to accept the case.

The Washington Post (USA):

• He pointed out that PGR states that Bolsonaro participated directly in a plan to continue in power after losing the 2022 elections.
• He stressed the use of misinformation, the pressure on military and incitement to the riot of January 8 as tactics to make the coup possible.

The Guardian (United Kingdom):

• He said Bolsonaro was a key piece in a “far-right conspiracy” to seize power through a military coup.
• He cited experts estimating that Bolsonaro could take up to 28 years in prison if he is convicted.

El country (Spain):

• He recalled that Bolsonaro is still the main leader of the Brazilian right, even ineligible.
• He pointed out that the former president continues without recognizing Lula’s victory, reinforcing the coup rhetoric even after the investigations.

La Nación (Argentina):

• He stressed that PGR’s complaint describes an authoritarian escalation of Bolsonaro throughout his government, culminating in an attempt to coup.
• He cited statements from the accusatory play that indicates that Bolsonaro used state intelligence and security bodies for his political interests.

Reaction of foreign politicians

USA: So far, the White House has not officially commented on the complaint, but Democratic congressmen had warned in 2023 that Bolsonaro could face cases for his undemocratic conduct.

European Union: The block has reinforced the monitoring of Brazilian institutional stability and can press the Lula government to ensure punishment to those responsible.

Argentina: Javier Milei, Bolsonaro’s ideological ally, maintains silence about the complaint, while Milei opponents highlight the case as a warning about right -wing radicalization in Latin America.

Comparison with the Trump case

The complaint against Bolsonaro reinforces the similarities between his strategy and that of Donald Trump in the US. Like former Brazilian president, Trump was also accused of trying to reverse the electoral results, fostering misinformation and encouraging the invasion of the capitol on January 6, 2021. However, there are differences in judicial treatment of both cases.

Although Trump responds numerous processes with robust evidence of his involvement, the Republican returned to the presidency in 2025, unlike Brazil, where Bolsonaro has been declared ineligible and now responds criminally.

Experts heard by the international press indicate that both leaders used similar methods:

• Dissemination of misinformation about electoral fraud.
• Pressure on institutions to validate unfounded allegations.
• Mobilization of supporters to contest the results and generate instability.

The Federal Supreme Court and the Electoral Court of Brazil played a more assertive role in the fight against democratic threats, while in the US, even after the invasion of the Capitol, the judiciary has advanced more permissively in trump cases.