Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been sentenced to 27 years in prison after a federal court found him guilty of orchestrating a coup plot aimed at overturning the results of the country’s 2022 elections.
Judges ruled that Bolsonaro and his allies conspired to undermine democratic institutions, push false claims of election fraud, and incite unrest in a bid to remain in power despite losing to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The ruling, handed down in Brasília on Thursday, marks the most severe punishment ever imposed on a former Brazilian head of state. Bolsonaro, 70, was convicted on charges of criminal association, attempting to subvert the democratic order, and incitement to insurrection.
Prosecutors presented evidence of meetings where Bolsonaro allegedly pressured military leaders to back a plan to block Lula’s inauguration. He was also accused of fueling nationwide protests that culminated in the January 2023 storming of government buildings in Brasília — scenes widely compared to the January 6 Capitol riot in the United States.
Bolsonaro’s lawyers described the verdict as politically motivated and confirmed they would appeal to the Supreme Court. Supporters of the far-right leader staged demonstrations outside the court, chanting slogans and waving Brazilian flags.
President Lula welcomed the ruling, calling it “a victory for democracy and the rule of law,” while international observers said the case underscored the resilience of Brazil’s institutions in the face of political extremism.
Bolsonaro, who led Brazil from 2019 to 2022, has faced multiple investigations since leaving office, including probes into corruption, vaccine mismanagement during the pandemic, and his alleged role in spreading disinformation.
The verdict throws Brazil’s political future into fresh uncertainty, with Bolsonaro barred from public office and his right-wing movement weakened by the stunning fall of its most prominent figure.
