Brasília, Brazil (BN24) — A panel of Brazil’s Supreme Court justices sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years and three months in prison Thursday after convicting him of attempting a coup to remain in power following his 2022 election defeat to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The ruling marks the first time in Brazilian history that a former president has been convicted of orchestrating a coup attempt. Bolsonaro, who has consistently denied wrongdoing, remains under house arrest in Brasília and is expected to appeal the decision.
Four of the five justices reviewing the case found Bolsonaro guilty on five counts, including conspiracy to overthrow democratic order, participation in an armed criminal organization, and inciting violence against state institutions. Justice Cármen Lúcia, siding with the majority, said Bolsonaro was “the instigator, the leader of an organization that orchestrated every possible move to maintain or seize power.”
The ruling immediately triggered backlash from Washington, deepening tensions between Brazil and the United States. President Donald Trump told reporters he was “very unhappy” with the conviction, describing Bolsonaro as “outstanding.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later posted on X that the Trump administration “will respond accordingly to this witch hunt.”
The U.S. had already imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods, citing what it called “political persecution” against Bolsonaro. Observers warned that new sanctions could follow, straining already fragile relations between the two countries.
The sentence will not immediately send Bolsonaro to prison. The Supreme Court has up to 60 days to publish the full ruling, after which his lawyers will have five days to file motions for clarification. Legal experts say appeals are unlikely to overturn the conviction but may slightly delay enforcement.
Rafael Mafei, a law professor at the University of São Paulo, noted that “it’s unlikely, but not impossible, that appeals to the full Supreme Court would change the outcome. The defense will try, because they should.”
Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who presided over the case, said Bolsonaro led a “criminal organization and coup plot” designed to prevent Lula’s government from taking office. In a dissenting opinion, Justice Luis Fux voted to acquit, arguing that “a coup d’état does not result from isolated acts or individual demonstrations lacking coordination.”
Bolsonaro’s sons denounced the decision as political persecution. Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on X that the ruling was “supreme persecution” and said history would vindicate his father. Eduardo Bolsonaro, another son, called for Congress to approve amnesty for the former leader.
Despite the conviction, Bolsonaro remains a central figure in Brazilian politics. He has already been barred from running for office until 2030 in a separate case, but his allies expect him to choose a political heir to challenge Lula in next year’s elections.
“I had the honor to serve as Jair Messias Bolsonaro’s chief of staff. I have never seen any act from him that wasn’t out of love for Brazil and absolute honesty,” Sen. Ciro Nogueira said on X. Former First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro added, “There is a God in heaven who sees everything, who loves justice and hates iniquity.”
The trial has split public opinion. Supporters of Bolsonaro have taken to the streets claiming political persecution, while others view the ruling as a landmark moment for democracy.
Thomas Traumann, a political consultant and former government minister, called the conviction “the most important day for Brazil’s democracy since the 1988 constitution was approved.”
“It is the first time a former president, a former defense minister and a former military commander are punished for trying to stop an elected government from taking office,” Traumann said. “The threats of the American government make this decision even braver.”
Current President Lula welcomed the outcome, saying there was overwhelming evidence. “Bolsonaro attempted a coup in this country, and there is hundreds of pieces of evidence,” Lula said in a TV interview before the ruling.
As Bolsonaro’s lawyers prepare their appeals, his conviction threatens to further destabilize Brazil’s political landscape and intensify its diplomatic standoff with Washington.
