Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison After Plotting Coup
Brazil’s Supreme Court has sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years and three months in prison after finding him guilty of plotting a coup attempt following his 2022 election loss to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Four out of five justices ruled that Bolsonaro led a “criminal organisation” that sought to overturn the election results, with prosecutors alleging he even supported a plot to assassinate Lula and others. Justice Cármen Lúcia warned the coup attempt was like a “virus” that nearly pushed Brazil back into authoritarianism. Bolsonaro, currently under house arrest, was also banned from running for office until 2060.
The verdict has triggered major backlash from both domestic supporters and international allies. Donald Trump called the conviction “very surprising,” saying, “That’s very much like they tried to do with me,” while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio slammed it as a “witch hunt.” In response, Brazil’s Foreign Ministry warned it would not be intimidated by foreign pressure. Meanwhile, Bolsonaro’s legal team called the sentence “absurdly excessive” and vowed to appeal, possibly even to international courts. Despite being barred from the 2026 race, Bolsonaro has insisted he will remain politically active.
The case has also escalated into a broader political crisis. Seven of Bolsonaro’s allies, including high-ranking military officials and ministers, were convicted alongside him. His supporters have rallied behind an amnesty bill, hoping to reverse the convictions. With tensions rising, legal experts say Bolsonaro’s chances of overturning the ruling are slim. As Justice Alexandre de Moraes said during sentencing, “Brazil almost returned to its 20-year dictatorship,” and this verdict, he argued, was about making sure that doesn’t happen again.
