Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro has been sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison for leading a coup attempt. A Supreme Court panel of five justices ruled that he conspired to stay in power after losing the 2022 election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Four judges voted to convict him, while one voted to acquit.
Bolsonaro, 70, was earlier placed under house arrest as a flight risk. His lawyers described the ruling as “absurdly excessive” and announced an appeal. Legal experts doubt success because appeals usually require two dissenting votes. Along with the jail term, the court barred him from holding office until 2033.
Prosecutors said Bolsonaro fueled false claims about Brazil’s voting system and urged the military to back him. They also accused him of knowing about a plot to assassinate Lula, his running mate, and a Supreme Court judge. The court held him responsible for the January 8, 2023 riots, when his supporters stormed government buildings.
The case has divided opinion globally. Donald Trump compared it to his own legal fights and called it a “witch hunt.” Brazil’s government dismissed criticism from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, insisting its democracy will not be intimidated.
