Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro has been sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison after being found guilty of plotting a military coup aimed at overturning the results of the 2022 election. The ruling, handed down by a panel of five Supreme Court justices, also bars him from holding public office until 2033.
Four justices voted to convict Bolsonaro, while one dissented. The charges included leading an armed coup.
Bolsonaro has consistently denied any wrongdoing, describing the proceedings as politically motivated. His lawyers have labelled the sentence “absurdly excessive” and signalled their intent to appeal, though legal experts note that with only one dissenting vote, chances for reversal are limited.
The justices ruled that Bolsonaro had begun planning long before the riot in Brasília, pushing military leaders to support a takeover and questioning the integrity of Brazil’s electronic voting system. Prosecutors argued that he was aware of a plan to assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, his running mate, and a Supreme Court justice. Several high-ranking allies, including two former defence ministers, were also found guilty. They were also convicted in connection with the conspiracy.
Justice Cármen Lúcia, whose vote secured the majority, warned that the failed coup attempt resembled a “virus” capable of destabilising society if left unchecked. Fellow Justice Alexandre de Moraes remarked that Brazil had come dangerously close to sliding back into dictatorship.
The conviction has also reverberated beyond Brazil’s borders, with U.S. President Donald Trump, a vocal supporter of Bolsonaro, arguing that the trial mirrored what he described as attacks against him in the United States. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also condemned the ruling and threatened consequences, prompting Brazil’s foreign ministry to issue a rebuttal rejecting this.
Since August, authorities have placed Bolsonaro, now 70, under house arrest due to his flight risk. His legal team is expected to argue for continued house arrest since August after he was deemed a flight risk. Instead of arguing for jail time, his legal team is anticipated to support continued house arrest on health grounds. The conviction, however, raises the prospect of him spending the remainder of his life behind bars.
