Brazil’s Bolsonaro Convicted of Coup Plot, Faces 40 Years in Prison

Bolsonaro successful an statement with national lawman Maria bash Rosário successful the Chamber of Deputies. Credit: Marcelo Camargo / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0

Brazil’s erstwhile President Jair Bolsonaro has been convicted of plotting a subject coup to enactment successful powerfulness aft his 2022 predetermination loss.

The country’s Supreme Court announced the ruling aft securing the minimum 3 votes needed for conviction. One justness voted to acquit, portion different has yet to present a verdict. The charges transportation imaginable penalties exceeding 40 years successful prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Friday.

Justice casts decisive vote

Justice Cármen Lúcia delivered the decisive ballot connected Thursday, declaring that Bolsonaro instigated the Jan. 8, 2023, riots, wherever thousands of his supporters stormed and vandalized the Supreme Court, Congress, and the statesmanlike palace successful Brasília.

She recovered him blameworthy connected 5 charges: attempting to signifier a coup, starring an equipped transgression organization, attempting to abolish antiauthoritarian regularisation done violence, and 2 counts related to spot demolition during the attacks.

Defense calls the lawsuit political

Bolsonaro’s defence has argued the proceedings is politically motivated and is preparing to appeal. Under tribunal rules, if 2 of the 5 justices ballot to acquit, the defence tin petition that the afloat Supreme Court—made up of 11 justices—review the case. The last ballot from Justice Cristiano Zanin volition beryllium intimately watched.

#Bolsonaro CONVICTED by #Brazil ultimate court

Former president and Trump state recovered GUILTY of plotting a #coup successful 2022

He says it’s a witch hunt – proceedings overseen by anti-free code Justice Moraes pic.twitter.com/LCAuGEVRyf

— Michael Ashura (@MichaelAshura) September 11, 2025

Bolsonaro absent from trial

The erstwhile president has not attended the last signifier of the trial; his lawyers said helium is pursuing the proceedings from his location successful Brasília owed to wellness reasons. Bolsonaro was stabbed successful the tummy during the 2018 run and has suffered recurring complications since.

He has been nether location apprehension since aboriginal August, aft constabulary alleged that helium and his son, Eduardo, attempted to interfere with the case. His lawyer was contiguous successful tribunal but near aft Justice Lúcia declared Bolsonaro blameworthy of attempting a coup and starring a transgression conspiracy earlier she concluded her remarks.

Prosecutors outline wider plot

Prosecutors stated that the charges widen beyond the events of January 8. They accused Bolsonaro of laying the groundwork for a coup months earlier by pressuring subject commanders and spreading unfounded claims of predetermination fraud.

With the ballot of Minister Carmen Lucia, Brazil's Supreme Court has formed a majority. Ex-president Jair Bolsonaro is convicted of starring an attempted coup d'état. The maximum situation condemnation is 44 years. pic.twitter.com/T7kflxGlRc

— BrianMier (@BrianMteleSUR) September 11, 2025

They besides alleged helium knew of a crippled to assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Lula’s moving mate, and a Supreme Court justice.

A historical conviction

Bolsonaro, 70, is the archetypal erstwhile Brazilian president to beryllium convicted of attempting to overturn antiauthoritarian regularisation done a coup plot. The ruling marks a melodramatic crook for the far-right leader, whose 4 years successful bureau were marred by contention and division.

With sentencing imminent and appeals pending, Brazil’s apical tribunal has placed its erstwhile president astatine the halfway of a ineligible and governmental tempest that could signifier the country’s ideology for years to come.