Brazil's Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Coup Plotting

Brazil's Supreme Court on Thursday sentenced former president Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup, concluding a landmark trial that has sharply divided the nation and drawn international attention, including a rebuke from the United States.

At 70 years old, the far-right ex-leader could potentially spend the remainder of his life behind bars.

The court voted 4-1 to convict Bolsonaro of orchestrating plans to overthrow Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva following his October 2022 election defeat to the left-wing president.

Prosecutors stated the coup plan failed only due to insufficient support from top military officials.

Bolsonaro’s defence labelled the sentence “incredibly excessive” and said they would appeal, including at the international level.

The trial drew swift reactions from Washington. Secretary of State Marco Rubio denounced the conviction as a politically motivated “witch hunt”, warning that the United States would “respond accordingly.”

Brazil’s foreign ministry rejected the comments, asserting it would not be intimidated by US “threats.”

Former US President Donald Trump, who had imposed tariffs on Brazil over Bolsonaro’s prosecution, called the verdict “very surprising”, praising Bolsonaro as a “good president” and a good man”, likening his legal troubles to his own past experiences.

Bolsonaro, who served a single term from 2019 to 2022 and remains under house arrest, did not attend the verdict hearings in Brasilia, following the proceedings remotely from his residence.

Speaking outside Bolsonaro’s family home, his son Flavio Bolsonaro stated:
"My father is holding his head high in the face of this persecution, because history will show that we are on the right side."

He added that allies would work to secure Congress’s support for an amnesty bill.

Across Brazil, citizens followed the trial closely on TV and social media. Reactions were sharply divided:

• In one Brasilia bar, patrons watching on a large screen applauded the conviction. Translator Virgilio Soares (46) said: “After so much waiting, this despicable individual is being sent to jail.”
• Conversely, Germano Cavalcante (60), a civil engineer, called the trial “unfair.”

Bolsonaro’s conviction is the fourth for a former Brazilian president since democracy returned in 1985, after a two-decade military dictatorship.

The trial has deepened societal divisions:

• Left-leaning citizens viewed it as a crucial test of democracy.
• Right-leaning citizens considered it a political show trial.

The case has also strained Brazil–US relations:

• Washington imposed tariffs and sanctioned Supreme Court judges, including Justice Moraes.

Meanwhile, Lula, now 79 years old, has regained political momentum. He has framed himself as a guardian of Brazil’s sovereignty in the face of alleged US interference and signalled intentions to run for reelection next year.

The Bolsonaro trial remains a defining moment in Brazil’s recent political history, highlighting both internal divisions and international tensions, while reshaping the country’s electoral landscape ahead of the 2026 polls.