Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was convicted on September 11, by a panel of the Supreme Federal Court in Brasília on charges of plotting a coup to stay in power after losing the 2022 election. He was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison —a landmark ruling making him the first ex-president in Brazil’s history convicted of attempting to overturn democratic rule.
The court convicted Bolsonaro on five major counts: taking part in an armed criminal organization; attempting the violent abolition of democratic rule of law; organizing a coup; damage qualified by violence; and deterioration of protected heritage. Four of the five justices voted to convict him, while one dissented, arguing procedural or jurisdictional issues—Justice Luiz Fux dissenting from the convictions in this case.
Bolsonaro, aged 70, who has been under house arrest since August over related cases, denied all wrongdoing and vowed to appeal the decision. His defense has argued that even if discussions were held about alternative methods to retain power, they did not amount to actions that constituted a coup.
The case also saw convictions for several co-defendants, including former military officials and ministers. Among these are high-ranking figures such as former Defence Minister Walter Braga Netto, former Minister Paulo Sergio Nogueira, Augusto Heleno (a former minister), Anderson Torres, Admiral Almir Garnier Santos, as well as Bolsonaro’s former aide-de-camp Mauro Cid.
Political reaction in Brazil is sharply divided. Supporters of the current president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, have welcomed the verdict as a turning point for the rule of law, while Bolsonaro’s base and international allies including U.S. President Donald Trump denounce the proceedings as politically motivated.
Despite the prison sentence, Bolsonaro will not begin serving it immediately. Under Brazilian law, his conviction can still be appealed, and because he has been under house arrest in related matters, his actual incarceration will depend on legal outcomes of those appeals.
