Brazil's former president Bolsonaro sentenced to 27 years for plotting attempted coup

Published connected 11/09/2025 - 21:36 GMT+2 •Updated 12/09/2025 - 12:00 GMT+2

The erstwhile president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, has been sentenced to 27 years and 3 months successful situation aft being recovered blameworthy of attempting a coup to stay successful powerfulness aft losing nan 2022 election.

A sheet of Brazilian Supreme Court judges handed Bolsonaro nan condemnation connected Thursday successful a ruling group to deepen governmental divisions. US President Donald Trump has antecedently called Bolsonaro’s ineligible proceedings arsenic “a witch hunt”.

Four of 5 judges recovered Bolsonaro blameworthy of starring a coup aimed astatine keeping him successful powerfulness aft he mislaid nan 2022 statesmanlike predetermination to left-wing rival Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. One voted to acquit him.

The 70-year-old erstwhile president is presently nether location apprehension arsenic per an bid from Justice Alexandre de Moraes connected 5 August for violating a prohibition connected governmental messaging.

Bolsonaro’s lawyers called nan condemnation "absurdly excessive" and pledged to record appeals. The erstwhile president, who has denied immoderate wrongdoing, has not attended nan tribunal proceeding successful person, alternatively electing to nonstop his lawyers successful his place.

The proceedings has been followed by a divided society, pinch group backing nan process against Bolsonaro, while others still support him. Some person taken to nan streets to backmost nan far-right leader and telephone for his contiguous acquittal.

Bolsonaro’s proceedings sewage renewed attraction aft Trump linked a 50% tariff connected imported Brazilian equipment to his ally’s ineligible situation. Observers opportunity Washington mightiness denote caller sanctions against Brazil aft nan trial, further straining their already vulnerable negotiated relations.

Justice de Moraes, who is overseeing nan case, said connected Tuesday that Bolsonaro was nan leader of a coup crippled and of a criminal organisation, and voted successful favour of convicting him.

Despite his ineligible woes, Bolsonaro remains a powerful governmental subordinate successful Brazil.

The far-right leader had been antecedently banned from moving for agency until 2030 successful a abstracted case. He is expected to take an heir who is apt to situation incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva adjacent year.

The ruling whitethorn push Bolsonaro’s allied lawmakers, and his 3 lawmaker sons, to activity immoderate amnesty for him done Congress.