Brazil’s Supreme Court orders Jair Bolsonaro to begin 27-year prison term for coup plot

Brazil's Supreme Court orders Jair Bolsonaro to begin 27-year prison term for coup plot

Brazil's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that former President Jair Bolsonaro must immediately begin serving a 27-year, three-month prison sentence for orchestrating a failed coup after his 2022 election defeat, ending all legal avenues for appeal. Justice Alexandre de Moraes declared the case final, ordering Bolsonaro's transfer to a federal police jail in Brasília, where he has been held since Saturday amid concerns he might flee.

Coup conspiracy and election aftermath

The 70-year-old far-right leader was convicted of leading a conspiracy to overturn his loss to leftist rival Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Prosecutors and justices alleged Bolsonaro knew of plans to assassinate Lula and his running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, as well as to arrest and execute Moraes, the judge overseeing his trial. The plot collapsed after military leaders refused to back it, allowing Lula's inauguration on 1 January 2023 to proceed without disruption.

A week later, on 8 January 2023, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília. Security forces intervened, arresting roughly 1,500 rioters. The Supreme Court later ruled that Bolsonaro had incited the violence, intending for the military to reinstate him.

Bolsonaro's detention and health concerns

Bolsonaro had been under house arrest but was moved to police custody over the weekend after authorities deemed him a flight risk. During a Sunday hearing, he admitted attempting to tamper with his ankle monitor using a soldering iron, claiming he "came to his senses" and denied any intent to flee. He attributed the act to "paranoia" caused by medication, according to court documents.

Justice Moraes also ordered round-the-clock medical care for Bolsonaro, whose legal team has cited deteriorating health. The former president has repeatedly dismissed the trial as a "witch hunt" designed to block his potential candidacy in the 2026 presidential election.

Co-conspirators sentenced; political ban extended

Alongside Bolsonaro, Moraes mandated that other convicted co-conspirators-including Gen. Augusto Heleno, former institutional security minister, and Gen. Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira, ex-defense minister-begin serving their sentences. Bolsonaro was also barred from holding public office until 2060, eight years beyond his prison term's end.

Aftermath of the 2022 election

The coup attempt marked an unprecedented challenge to Brazil's democratic institutions. While the military's refusal to intervene thwarted Bolsonaro's plans, the 8 January riots exposed deep political divisions. Analysts note the sentencing could further polarize supporters, though legal experts assert the ruling reinforces judicial independence amid rising authoritarian threats in the region.