A panel of Brazil’s Supreme Court sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years and three months in prison for plotting a coup to remain in power after losing the 2022 election.
Earlier, Bolsonaro was convicted by the Supreme Court of plotting a coup to remain in power after losing the 2022 election, a powerful blow to the populist far-right movement he created.
The ruling by a panel of five justices on Brazil’s Supreme Court made Bolsonaro the first former president in the country’s history to be convicted for attacking democracy, and drew disapproval from US President Donald Trump.
“This criminal case is almost a meeting between Brazil and its past, its present and its future,” Justice Carmen Lucia said before her vote to convict Bolsonaro, referring to a history checked with military coups and attempts to overthrow democracy.
There was ample evidence, she added, that Bolsonaro acted “with the purpose of eroding democracy and institutions.”
Four of the five judges voted to convict the former president of five crimes: taking part in an armed criminal organisation; attempting to violently abolish democracy; organising a coup; and damaging government property and protected cultural assets. One judge voted to acquit him.
TRUMP ON BOLSONARO’S CONVICTION
United States President Donald Trump, who previously slammed actions against Bolsonaro, stated he is “surprised” that the former Brazilian president has been convicted by a Supreme Court majority of plotting a coup to remain in power after losing the 2022 election.
Earlier, the Republican leader accused Brazil of a ‘witch hunt’ against Bolsonaro, slamming its government with sweeping tariffs and sanctions against presiding judges.
RUBIO VOWS US RESPONSE
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Washington would “respond accordingly to this witch hunt” after former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s conviction in a coup plot.
“The political persecutions by sanctioned human rights abuser Alexandre de Moraes continue, as he and others on Brazil’s supreme court have unjustly ruled to imprison former President Jair Bolsonaro. The United States will respond accordingly to this witch hunt,” Rubio wrote on X.
EDUARDO BOLSONARO REACTS TO HIS FATHER’S CONVICTION
While speaking to Reuters earlier, Brazilian Congressman and the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, Eduardo Bolsonaro, said that he expects additional US. sanctions against Brazilian officials after his father’s conviction in relation to the coup charges. In a strongly worded statement, Eduardo asserted that “a dictatorship is being installed in Brazil,” while hinting at a firm response to actions from the US government.
The junior Bolsonaro had moved to the US earlier this year to seek support from President Donald Trump to stop criminal proceedings against his father. He also met US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent last month to push for more sanctions against Brazilian officials involved in the trial of his father.
Eduardo also claimed credit for pushing the White House to announce sweeping 50% tariffs on most Brazilian goods.
