BRAZIL’S SUPREME COURT CONVICTS BOLSONARO – Former President Jair Bolsonaro’s sentence is set at 27 years and 3 months
Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) have convicted former President Jair Bolsonaro of plotting a coup to remain in power after losing the 2022 election, a landmark ruling that makes him the first former president in the country’s history convicted for attacking democracy.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes announced that a majority of the court found Bolsonaro guilty of leading an armed criminal organisation, attempting the violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, organising a coup d’état, and causing qualified damage to federal property and protected cultural assets.
De Moraes set Bolsonaro’s sentence at 27 years and 3 months — comprising 24 years and 9 months of imprisonment and 2 years and 6 months of detention — along with 124 days of fines.
Justice Cristiano Zanin, said the evidence showed the attempted coup was “carefully planned” and already underway, with actions calibrated to find “the best moment for its launch,” and that Bolsonaro, “as the main beneficiary,” knew of and contributed to the plot through acts and omissions. Zanin concluded by voting to accept in full the complaint filed by the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Speaking on the conviction, U.S. President Donald Trump said he was surprised as he had previously called the case against Bolsonaro a “witch hunt”, slammed Brazil with tariff hikes, sanctions against the presiding judge, and the revocation of visas for most members of Brazil’s high court.
