In a Brazilian court ruling, former President Bolsonaro received a sentence of 27 years in prison for his role in planning a coup d'état.
In a historic ruling, the Supreme Court of Brazil has convicted former President Jair Bolsonaro for overseeing a failed plot to overturn the 2022 election. This marks the first time in at least 15 coups or coup attempts with links to the military since Brazil overthrew its monarchy in 1889 that the leaders of one of those plots have been convicted.
Thousands of Bolsonaro's supporters stormed Brazil's halls of power in a failed bid to induce a military takeover, a week after the inauguration of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The plans included declaring a state of emergency, dissolving the Supreme Court, annulling the election result, and giving the military sweeping powers.
The conviction relied upon evidence showing that Bolsonaro and his inner circle undermined voters' confidence in Brazil's elections systems and attempted to find ways to keep him in power. The plans also involved a plot to assassinate Lula da Silva, his running mate, and Alexandre de Moraes, the Supreme Court justice who had overseen the election and launched several investigations into Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison, but his lawyers are likely to request house arrest due to his health problems. He had been awaiting the verdict under house arrest, watched closely by the police because the court deemed him a flight risk.
The ruling will likely escalate the conflict between Brazil and the United States, as President Donald Trump had demanded that Brazil drop the charges against Bolsonaro. The White House had sought to force Brazil to drop the case with steep tariffs, a trade investigation, and severe sanctions against de Moraes, who was hit with some of the harshest sanctions the United States has at its disposal.
Brazil's highway police stopped voters in left-leaning districts on election day, an action that has raised concerns about the integrity of the election. The ruling, however, is seen as a significant step towards upholding Brazil's democracy.
The conviction of Bolsonaro could deal a definitive blow to one of Latin America's most influential political figures. One justice, Luiz Fux, absolved Bolsonaro and all but two of his seven collaborators in the plot. The case is expected to have far-reaching implications for Brazil's political landscape.
The personal secretary of Bolsonaro provided damaging testimony against him, contributing to the evidence that led to his conviction. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding democratic principles and the rule of law, even in the face of political turmoil.
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