“He’s asking for amnesty, which means he’s basically saying, ‘Guys, I’m guilty. I tried to come up with a plan to kill Lula, I tried to come up with a plan to kill (Vice President Geraldo) Alckmin, I tried to come up with a plan to kill (Justice) Alexandre de Moraes,'" Lula told Radio Tupi during a live interview.
Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet on Tuesday charged Bolsonaro with devising a multipronged plot to remain in power despite his loss to Lula, including an alleged plan to poison Lula and shoot dead Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, a foe of the former president.
Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing and dismissed accusations against him as vague, saying the charges were the result of an authoritarian regime manufacturing internal enemies. He was already banned by Brazil's top electoral court to run in elections until 2030 over abuse of power while in office and casting unfounded doubts on the country's electronic voting system.
The Brazilian president added that Bolsonaro and his allies who were also charged should first defend themselves in court instead of asking for forgiveness in advance.
“I always emphasize the presumption of innocence — everyone in this country has the right to prove their innocence and he has that right. So prove it,” Lula said.
Lula said that such allegations were "extremely serious."
“I am sure that if it is proven, there is only one way out: prison,” he added.
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