Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said that his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro is entitled to a fair trial in the ongoing coup attempt case. Bolsonaro, accused of trying to overturn the 2022 election results to stay in power, could face up to 43 years in prison if convicted.

Speaking on Tuesday as the trial entered its final stage at the Supreme Federal Court, Lula stressed that justice must be served while respecting the presumption of innocence. “What I hope is that justice will be done, respecting the right to the presumption of innocence, that’s all. I wish for myself and for any of my enemies the right to the presumption of innocence,” Lula told reporters in Sao Paulo.

The president noted that unlike himself—when he was jailed in 2018 on corruption charges that were later overturned—Bolsonaro has full rights to defend himself.

Bolsonaro is currently under house arrest in Brasilia under strict conditions imposed by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who cited risks of flight and obstruction of justice. The restrictions include nightly house arrest on weekdays, full-time confinement on weekends, electronic monitoring, and a ban on contact with diplomats.

Concerns heightened last month when prosecutors warned Bolsonaro could attempt to seek refuge in a foreign embassy. His son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, has been lobbying in the United States for amnesty and against the trial, actions that raised alarms about possible evasion.

Brazil’s Supreme Court has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding democracy and sovereignty, stating that any attempt to undermine constitutional order will be met with firm legal consequences.