In a landmark decision for Brazilian democracy, former President Jair Bolsonaro has been sentenced to 27 years and 3 months in prison by the country’s Supreme Court. The verdict concludes a nearly six-month trial over his role in orchestrating a coup attempt to undermine the 2022 election results and illegally remain in power.
The case also saw the conviction of seven of Bolsonaro’s closest associates, including three generals, an admiral, and a lieutenant colonel. This marks an unprecedented moment in Brazilian history where high-ranking military officers have been held accountable for attempting to subvert the constitutional order. The verdict sends a powerful global signal that democratic institutions can prosecute those who seek to dismantle them from within.
Throughout the live-streamed proceedings, Bolsonaro maintained his innocence, casting himself as a victim whose election victory was stolen. His defense team argued that he could not have orchestrated the January 8th riots at government buildings as he was in the United States at the time—a trip that itself broke with Brazil’s tradition of a peaceful transfer of power.
However, the court found overwhelming evidence of Bolsonaro’s direct involvement. Prosecutors presented a handwritten draft of a decree, authored by Bolsonaro, which would have annulled the election, declared a state of emergency, and removed the legitimately elected President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from power. The plot allegedly extended to planning the assassinations of Lula, his vice president, and the lead prosecuting justice. According to the court, the coup ultimately failed only because commanders of the army and air force refused to participate.
The trial drew sharp international intervention, most notably from former U.S. President Donald Trump. He labeled the proceedings a ‘witch hunt’ against a ‘good man’ and demanded Bolsonaro’s immediate release. When his demands were not met, Trump’s administration imposed 50% tariffs on Brazil and revoked the visas of key Brazilian judicial officials. President Lula fiercely condemned the actions as an unacceptable violation of Brazilian sovereignty.
The verdict unfolds against a backdrop of extreme political polarization. The 2022 election, which Lula won by a slim 1.8% margin, did not extinguish Bolsonarismo as a potent right-wing populist movement. The right-wing opposition has consistently called for amnesty, and a prominent pro-Bolsonaro governor has pledged to free the former president if he wins the next election.
Bolsonaro plans to appeal the sentence. Given the split decision among the initial panel of judges, he is entitled to request a hearing before the full 11-member Supreme Court. While this may not overturn the conviction, it could potentially reduce his sentence. For now, he remains under house arrest. Bolsonaro and the convicted generals also face a separate judgment from the High Military Court, which will decide on their expulsion from the armed forces.