Brasilia, September 12, 2025 Brazil’s Supreme Court has sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years and three months in prison for attempting to stage a coup after his 2022 election defeat, a ruling that analysts say is a defining moment for the country’s democratic institutions.
A panel of five justices found the 70-year-old ex-leader guilty on multiple charges, including leading an armed criminal organization, plotting to abolish democratic rule by force, conspiring to assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and destroying public property. Four judges voted to convict while one dissented.
Bolsonaro, who is currently under house arrest in Brasilia, has denied wrongdoing and vowed to appeal. His allies describe the conviction as political persecution, but rights groups and pro-democracy advocates hailed the judgment as a bold stand for the rule of law.
The decision is seen as a watershed in Brazil’s political history the first time a former president has been convicted of attempting to subvert democracy. Observers warn, however, that the verdict could deepen political divides in a nation still reeling from the turmoil of the 2022 election.
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