Brazil’s Supreme Court sentenced former president Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison for coup plotting, following his 2022 election defeat. Judges voted 4-1 to convict the 70-year-old far-right leader of planning to topple President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, with prosecutors saying the scheme collapsed because military leaders refused to join.
Bolsonaro Vows Appeal
Bolsonaro’s defense called the sentence excessive and pledged to appeal nationally and internationally. Speaking in Brasilia, his son Flavio said Bolsonaro would “hold his head high” and push for amnesty in Congress. The former leader, already under house arrest, followed the proceedings from home.
Washington reacted sharply. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the trial a “witch hunt,” while Brazil’s foreign ministry rejected the criticism and vowed not to bow to intimidation. US President Donald Trump, a close ally, labeled the verdict “very surprising” and praised Bolsonaro as “a good man.” The clash has deepened tensions between Brazil and the United States.
Divided Nation
The ruling capped one of Brazil’s most divisive trials, as Bolsonaro was also found guilty of inciting the January 2023 riots, when his supporters stormed government buildings in Brasilia. Public reaction split sharply, with leftists hailing the conviction as a defense of democracy while conservatives denounced it as political persecution.
Bolsonaro became the fourth Brazilian president convicted since the end of military rule in 1985. Lula, once jailed on corruption charges, has regained momentum from the ruling and positioned himself as a defender of Brazil’s sovereignty against US pressure.
