Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro has been sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison for plotting a coup to remain in power after losing the 2022 election.
A five-judge panel of the Supreme Court delivered the verdict on Thursday, with four judges voting to convict and one favoring acquittal. The court also barred Bolsonaro from running for any public office until 2033.
Bolsonaro, 70, remains under house arrest due to flight risk concerns but was not present for the final stage of the trial. His lawyers called the ruling “excessively harsh” and announced plans to appeal — though legal experts say overturning the verdict will be difficult.
Prosecutors said Bolsonaro began planning the coup well in advance, held talks with military officials, and was aware of plots to assassinate President Lula da Silva, his running mate, and a Supreme Court justice. Seven others — including two former defense ministers, the former intelligence chief, and senior military officials — were also convicted.
Although Bolsonaro failed to secure enough military backing, his supporters stormed government buildings on January 8, 2023, leading to more than 1,500 arrests.
Bolsonaro has repeatedly claimed the case is politically motivated and designed to block his 2026 comeback bid, calling it a “witch hunt.”
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed solidarity with Bolsonaro, comparing the verdict to efforts to keep him from power. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also criticized the ruling, prompting Brazil’s foreign ministry to respond sharply, saying such “threats cannot intimidate Brazil’s democracy.”
