Jair Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Brazil Coup Plot, Barred from Public Office
Jair Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Brazil Coup Plot, Barred from Public Office
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison after being found guilty of orchestrating a military coup. The landmark ruling, delivered by a panel of five Supreme Court justices, also bars Bolsonaro from running for public office until 2033.
The conviction stems from his efforts to remain in power after losing the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Four of the five justices found him guilty of leading a conspiracy to overturn the election results.
Bolsonaro’s legal team swiftly condemned the sentence as “absurdly excessive” and confirmed their intent to file “appropriate appeals.” The former leader, currently under house arrest, did not attend the final phase of the trial, which he has previously dismissed as a “witch hunt” aimed at preventing his participation in future elections.
The verdict has already drawn international reactions, with former US President Donald Trump expressing surprise and comparing it to his own legal battles. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio threatened retaliation, calling the ruling an “unjust” imprisonment and a “witch hunt,” a stance swiftly rebuked by Brazil’s foreign ministry as an attack on its democracy.
Prosecutors alleged Bolsonaro’s plot to cling to power began well before the 2022 election, involving proposals for a coup to military commanders and sowing doubts about the electoral system. The conspiracy culminated in the storming of government buildings by his supporters on January 8, 2023. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw the trial, highlighted the gravity of the situation, stating Brazil “almost returned to its 20-year dictatorship” due to the “criminal organisation’s” inability to accept electoral defeat.
At 70, Bolsonaro now faces the prospect of spending the remainder of his life incarcerated. His lawyers are expected to argue for continued house arrest and a reduced sentence, though legal experts suggest an appeal against the conviction itself may prove challenging given the Supreme Court’s strong majority verdict.
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