Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison after the country’s Supreme Court found him guilty of plotting a military coup to remain in power following his 2022 election defeat.
The Verdict
A five-member panel of Supreme Court justices delivered the ruling late Thursday, with four voting for conviction and one dissenting. Alongside the prison term, Bolsonaro was barred from holding public office until 2033.
Bolsonaro, 70, did not attend the final phase of his trial, having been placed under house arrest as a flight risk. His lawyers blasted the ruling as “absurdly excessive” and vowed to file appeals, though legal experts say overturning the decision may prove difficult since only one justice voted for acquittal.
Charges and Evidence
The former president was convicted on five charges linked to a conspiracy to overturn the election result against his rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who now serves as Brazil’s president.
Prosecutors accused Bolsonaro of:
- Pressuring military leaders to support a coup.
- Spreading false claims about electoral fraud.
- Knowing of plans to assassinate Lula, his running mate, and a Supreme Court justice.
- Leading a network of conspirators, which included former defence ministers, a former spy chief, and senior military officers.
The justices also linked him to the January 8, 2023 storming of government buildings in Brasília by his supporters — an event compared to the U.S. Capitol riot of 2021.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw the trial, warned:
“Brazil almost returned to its 20-year dictatorship because a political group refused to accept defeat.”
International Reactions
The ruling sparked international debate.
- Donald Trump, a close Bolsonaro ally, described the sentence as “very surprising” and compared it to his own legal battles in the U.S.
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the decision, calling it a “witch hunt” and threatening consequences.
- Brazil’s Foreign Ministry swiftly rejected Rubio’s remarks, saying Brazil’s democracy “will not be intimidated”.
What’s Next
Bolsonaro’s legal team is expected to push for house arrest instead of prison time, citing his age. However, if appeals fail, the former president could spend the rest of his life behind bars.
The ruling also saw seven co-conspirators convicted, including former senior military and security officials, underscoring the depth of the alleged coup plot.
Justice Cármen Lúcia, casting the decisive guilty vote, warned that Brazil’s democracy was under serious threat:
“There is no immunity to authoritarianism. Like a virus, it can destroy a society if left unchecked.”
Source: My News Ghana
About the Author
