Brazil has reached an unprecedented turning point in its democratic history. On Thursday, the nation’s Supreme Court sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro, 70, to 27 years and three months in prison for plotting a coup after losing the 2022 election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
In a landmark ruling, a majority of justices found Bolsonaro guilty of masterminding a vast conspiracy aimed at overturning the election results. Seven of his closest allies, including his running mate, his defense minister, and a navy commander, were also convicted.
The court concluded that the conspiracy extended beyond rhetoric: it included concrete plans to dissolve the Supreme Court itself and even assassinate President-elect Lula before he could take office. Bolsonaro denied plotting a coup, insisting that he only explored “ways within the Constitution” to remain in power.
The decision marks a milestone in Brazil’s turbulent political trajectory. Since the fall of the monarchy in 1889, the country has witnessed no fewer than 15 coups and coup attempts, often involving military figures. Yet never before has a leader been convicted for orchestrating one.
For many Brazilians, the verdict is both a symbolic and practical step toward safeguarding democratic institutions. It also sends a powerful message across Latin America, where populist leaders have often challenged constitutional limits.
Observers say Bolsonaro’s sentencing will test Brazil’s political stability and institutions in the months ahead. While his supporters view the trial as politically motivated, democracy advocates see it as long-overdue accountability for an era of rising authoritaria
n impulses.
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