Brazil SC Sentences Bolsonaro To 27 Years For Coup Attempt

A Brazilian Supreme Court panel sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years and three months in prison on Thursday, convicting him of attempting a coup to retain power after his 2022 electoral defeat to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Four of five justices found the far-right leader guilty on five counts, including orchestrating a coup, leading a criminal organization, attempting to abolish democratic rule, engaging in violence, and damaging state assets. The historic ruling, the first conviction of a former Brazilian president for a coup attempt, deepens the nation’s political divide and escalates tensions with the United States.

The trial, overseen by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, saw Justice Cármen Lúcia cast the decisive vote on Thursday, following Justice Luiz Fux’s dissent to acquit Bolsonaro. Prosecutors presented evidence of a plot, codenamed Operation Green and Yellow Dagger, involving plans to undermine the electoral system and assassinate top officials, including Lula and Moraes. Bolsonaro, 70, under house arrest in Brasilia, did not attend the proceedings, with his lawyers vowing to appeal to the full 11-justice Supreme Court. A final sentencing debate is set for Friday, though the conviction stands with the majority secured.

The ruling has polarized Brazil, with supporters rallying for Bolsonaro, who remains a significant political figure despite a prior ban from running for office until 2030. Some allies in Congress may push for amnesty, while Bolsonaro is expected to back a successor to challenge Lula in the 2026 election. The conviction could reshape Brazil’s political landscape, with observers noting potential shifts in far-right strategies ahead of the vote.

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U.S. President Donald Trump, a Bolsonaro ally, condemned the verdict as a “witch hunt,” expressing dismay and linking it to 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods. The U.S. may impose further sanctions, straining bilateral relations. The case, amplified by the January 8, 2023, riots by Bolsonaro supporters in Brasilia, underscores ongoing challenges to Brazil’s democratic institutions as the nation grapples with its polarized political climate.

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