Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison after Brazil’s Supreme Court convicted him of plotting a coup to remain in power following his 2022 election defeat to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Four of five justices found him guilty of leading a criminal organisation and attempting to erode democratic institutions. Justice Luiz Fux voted against and for the acquittal. Justice Cármen Lúcia said evidence proved Bolsonaro acted “with the purpose of eroding democracy and institutions.”
The 70-year-old, currently under house arrest, faced up to 40 years. His lawyers described the ruling as “excessive and disproportionate” and vowed to appeal both domestically and internationally.
Seven close allies were also found guilty by the court, including Walter Braga Netto, the former running mate, former Defense Minister Paulo Sérgio Nogueira, former aide Mauro Cid, and former Justice Minister Anderson Torres. Bolsonaro insists that he will run for president in 2026, even though he won't be allowed to run until 2030 because he made false claims about Brazil's voting system.
His son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, said his father was “holding his head high in the face of persecution” and vowed to push for an amnesty bill in Congress.
The verdict drew global attention. Previous U.S. The trial was referred to as a "witch-hunt" by President Donald Trump, who also sanctioned the presiding judge, Alexandre de Moraes, and imposed new tariffs on Brazil. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also condemned the ruling, while Brazil’s Foreign Ministry replied it would not be intimidated by “thr+ats.”
A former army captain who rose to power in 2018 on anti-establishment sentiment, Bolsonaro has long praised Brazil's military dictatorship. His refusal to accept defeat in 2022 raised fears of democratic backsliding. The ruling is expected to fuel unrest, with thousands of supporters already protesting in Brasilia.