Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro has just been hit with a massive 27-year-and-three-month prison sentence after a Supreme Court panel convicted him of trying to stage a coup. The decision came on Thursday when four out of five justices voted guilty, sealing the fate of the 70-year-old leader.
Justices Carmen Lucia and Cristiano Zanin delivered the final votes to convict Bolsonaro on charges like plotting a coup d’etat, attempting to violently overthrow Brazil’s democratic rule of law, joining an armed criminal group, causing aggravated damage, and harming protected heritage sites. This follows votes from Justices Alexandre de Moraes and Flavio Dino earlier in the week, while Justice Luiz Fux had pushed for acquittal.
The Supreme Federal Court kicked off the high-stakes case on September 2, and it needed a majority from the five-justice panel to convict. Bolsonaro, who’s already under house arrest, skipped the final hearing in person. But he’s not out of options—he can still appeal to the full 11-justice court.
Bolsonaro has slammed the trial as a “witch hunt” aimed at blocking his run in the 2026 presidential election. Remember, he’s already banned from public office over other issues. His supporters and even former US President Donald Trump have rallied behind him. Trump recently slapped 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods, calling it payback for the prosecution.
Reacting to the verdict, Trump called it “very surprising” and drew parallels to his own legal battles: “That’s very much like they tried to do with me. But they didn’t get away with it at all.” As Brazil’s political drama unfolds, eyes are on what this means for the country’s future and Bolsonaro’s next moves.
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