Brazil’s Supreme Court has convicted former president Jair Bolsonaro of leading a plot to overturn the 2022 election and has sentenced him to 27 years and three months in prison. The ruling — handed down by a majority of justices — found Bolsonaro guilty of plotting to subvert democracy, leading a criminal organisation and other related charges. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Summary of the verdict and sentence
A panel of Brazil’s Supreme Court (STF) convicted Bolsonaro on multiple counts related to an attempted coup following his 2022 electoral defeat to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Four of five justices voted to convict; Justice Luiz Fux dissented. The court described evidence showing Bolsonaro and several allies worked to erode democratic institutions and foment instability after the election. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
The sentence of 27 years and three months was handed down after the court found Bolsonaro’s conduct amounted to leading a criminal organisation and attempting to abolish democratic rule — charges that carry a potential maximum sentence of up to 40 years. The ruling also sentenced seven of Bolsonaro’s close allies, including former defence and justice ministers and senior aides. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
What the court’s evidence shows
The prosecution presented a multi-part case drawing on digital records, testimony from cooperating witnesses, intercepted communications, documented coordination with security elements and contemporaneous planning documents. The court said the evidence showed a pattern of actions designed to prevent the transfer of power — including pressure on military and security officials, plans to disrupt institutions and public messaging aimed at delegitimising the electoral process. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
A key element in the trial was testimony and material from aides and former officials who described efforts to rally loyalist forces and to coordinate actions in the days after the election — evidence the court found sufficient to conclude Bolsonaro acted with the purpose of undermining democratic rule. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
Who else was convicted
- Walter Braga Netto — Bolsonaro’s former running mate and senior official — convicted alongside others. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
- Paulo Sérgio Nogueira — former defence minister — among those convicted. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
- Mauro Cid and Anderson Torres — former aides and ministers — also received convictions and varying sentences. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
Dissent, appeals and legal path ahead
The ruling was not unanimous: Justice Luiz Fux dissented, questioning jurisdictional and legal grounds — a dissent that may provide a legal avenue for Bolsonaro’s defence in subsequent appeals. Bolsonaro has vowed to appeal the ruling domestically and internationally, and his legal team has described the sentence as “excessive and disproportionate.” :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
Brazil’s legal process allows for multiple layers of appeal. The conviction and sentence can be challenged in higher courts and on procedural grounds; meanwhile, Bolsonaro remains under house arrest as the appeals process unfolds. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
Immediate political and international fallout
The decision drew swift international reaction. Former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly condemned the ruling as a “witch-hunt,” announced new tariffs on Brazil and said he would sanction presiding judge Alexandre de Moraes. U.S. politicians including Senator Marco Rubio also criticised the verdict; Brazil’s Foreign Ministry rejected what it called external intimidation. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
Domestically, Bolsonaro’s supporters staged protests in Brasilia and other cities. The government has warned against violence, while security agencies prepared contingency plans given the risk of unrest following such a high-profile conviction. Observers say the verdict could deepen political polarisation and prompt both street mobilisation and legislative manoeuvres (including calls for amnesty from some of Bolsonaro’s allies). :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
Why this matters — risks to democracy and stability
The conviction marks an unprecedented accountability moment for a modern Brazilian president accused of trying to overturn democratic outcomes. Legal scholars say it sets a precedent for holding political leaders criminally responsible for anti-democratic plots; critics argue it risks further polarisation if parts of the population view the process as politicised. Either outcome carries risk: erosion of public trust in institutions, mobilisation by armed or civilian loyalists, and international diplomatic strains. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
Timeline — from election loss to sentencing (quick chronology)
| Key moment | What happened |
|---|---|
| Oct 2022 | Bolsonaro loses 2022 election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. |
| Post-election 2022–2023 | Allegations and investigations into attempts to overturn result; public rallies and pressures on institutions. |
| Investigation & trials | Prosecutors built a case using witness testimony, cooperation deals and seized communications. |
| Sept 11, 2025 | Supreme Court panel convicts Bolsonaro; sentence set at 27 years and three months. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14} |
- Reuters — coverage of the conviction and sentence. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}
- Associated Press — timeline, details and reactions. :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}
- Al Jazeera — reporting and background analysis. :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}
- The Guardian — explainer and context. :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}
Image note: To include an "image evidence" photograph of Bolsonaro for publication, replace the placeholder <img src> above with a licensed editorial photo URL (e.g., Reuters or AP image). I can fetch the exact licensed image URLs and embed them with photographer credits if you want — reply “Embed Reuters/AP image” and I’ll add them and produce a ready-to-publish HTML file with proper credits. :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}