Brazil’s Supreme Court Sentences Ex-President Jair Bolsonaro to 27 Years for Coup Plot

Brazil’s Supreme Court finds Bolsonaro guilty of attempting to overthrow democracy, marking a historic first in the nation’s political history

In a landmark ruling, Brazil’s Supreme Court has sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison after a majority of justices found him guilty of orchestrating a coup following his narrow defeat in the 2022 presidential election. The decision marks the first time in Brazilian history that a former president has been convicted of crimes against democracy, underscoring the judiciary’s determination to defend democratic institutions.

Justice Cármen Lúcia, who cast the decisive third vote, framed the case as a “meeting between Brazil and its past, its present, and its future.” Her remarks invoked the country’s fraught history with authoritarianism, including the two-decade military dictatorship that ended just over 40 years ago, warning that threats to democracy remain a pressing concern.

According to the court, evidence demonstrated that Bolsonaro engaged in a coordinated campaign “with the purpose of eroding democracy and institutions.” Prosecutors outlined a sequence of actions starting in 2021, which included attempts to delegitimize Brazil’s electronic voting system, pressure the judiciary, and spread unfounded claims of election fraud. Investigators also detailed plans for a violent operation targeting political rivals, including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, his running mate Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.

The conviction further cites Bolsonaro’s role in mobilizing supporters after the 2022 election, culminating in the January 8, 2023, attack on government buildings in Brasília, a violent event eerily reminiscent of the 2021 U.S. Capitol riot. Prosecutors described this as part of a broader effort to prevent the peaceful transfer of power, asserting that Bolsonaro and his co-conspirators formed an armed criminal organization with anti-democratic goals.

The sentencing sends a powerful message about accountability in Brazil. Justice Lúcia emphasized that the ruling was not only about punishing one individual but also about reinforcing the resilience of Brazilian democracy and protecting the country from the recurring threat of authoritarianism.

Bolsonaro, 70, who is barred from holding office until 2030, now faces a lengthy prison term, while his defense maintains his innocence and continues to contest the verdict. International observers have framed the case as a “test for democracies worldwide,” noting its significance in an era of rising populism and anti-democratic movements.

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