Brazil’s former President Bolsonaro found guilty of plotting coup

Brazil’s Supreme Court has delivered a landmark verdict, finding former president Jair Bolsonaro guilty of orchestrating a military coup attempt.

Out of the five justices presiding over the high-profile case, four voted for conviction, while one justice favored acquittal. The ruling confirms that the 70-year-old ex-leader spearheaded a conspiracy to cling to power after losing the 2022 presidential election to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Although Bolsonaro’s plan failed to secure the backing of Brazil’s armed forces, the scheme culminated in the 8 January 2023 storming of Brasília, when his supporters attacked the Supreme Court, the presidential palace, and Congress.

Harsh Sentencing Expected

The charges Bolsonaro faced are severe and collectively could amount to a prison term exceeding 40 years. The court has already begun the sentencing process.

Casting the decisive vote, Justice Cármen Lúcia declared that Bolsonaro had ignited the “insurgency” that shook Brazil’s democratic institutions in January 2023. She convicted him on all five counts, including:

• Attempting to stage a coup
• Leading an armed criminal organisation
• Attempted violent abolition of democratic rule
• Two further charges tied to property destruction during the government building invasions

“This was like a virus,” Justice Lúcia remarked, warning that if left unchecked, such attempts can destroy the fabric of society. “I hope this trial serves as a cure so that it doesn’t return. Relapses aren’t good.”

Bolsonaro Denounces ‘Witch Hunt’

Bolsonaro, who has consistently denied wrongdoing, dismissed the case as a politically motivated witch hunt. His legal team is preparing to file appeals.

The former president did not appear in court for the final stage of the trial, citing health issues. Having survived a stabbing in 2018, he continues to face abdominal complications. His attorneys said he followed proceedings remotely from his residence in Brasília, where he has been under house arrest since August amid allegations that he and his son, Eduardo, attempted to interfere with the case.

His lawyer, present in the courtroom, walked out after Justice Lúcia announced the guilty verdict on coup and conspiracy charges—before she had even concluded her statement.

Wider Conspiracy Allegations

Prosecutors argued that Bolsonaro’s coup efforts went far beyond the January 2023 events. They accused him of:

• Proposing a coup to military commanders
• Undermining Brazil’s electoral system with baseless fraud claims
• Being aware of a plot to assassinate Lula, his running mate, and a Supreme Court justice

These findings, prosecutors said, reinforced the scope of Bolsonaro’s attempt to destabilize democracy.

Divisive Reactions at Home and Abroad

The conviction has deeply divided Brazil. Bolsonaro’s supporters condemned the trial as an effort to block his return to politics ahead of the 2026 elections.

Although Bolsonaro is already banned from holding office until 2030 due to spreading false claims about Brazil’s voting system, he had pledged to fight that ban in hopes of securing a second presidential term in 2026.

International reaction has also been swift. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, one of Bolsonaro’s staunchest allies, blasted the court’s handling of the case. In response to the trial, Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian imports and sanctioned Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw the proceedings.

Speaking after Bolsonaro’s conviction, Trump called the verdict “very surprising,” adding: “It’s very much what they tried to do with me, but they didn’t get away with it at all. He was a good man; I don’t see that happening.”

Bolsonaro’s son Eduardo echoed Trump’s criticism, telling Reuters that further punitive measures from Washington could follow. “We are going to have a firm response with actions from the U.S. government against this dictatorship that is being installed in Brazil,” he said.

A Nation at a Crossroads

The guilty verdict against Jair Bolsonaro marks one of the most consequential moments in modern Brazilian history. While his conviction may safeguard democratic institutions, it risks intensifying polarization in a country still grappling with the aftermath of the January 2023 unrest.