Brazil’s Supreme Court has sentenced former president Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years and 3 months in prison for plotting to overturn the results of the 2022 election. The ruling was delivered on September 11, 2025, marking the first time a former Brazilian head of state has received such a sentence for undermining democracy.

Bolsonaro was convicted on multiple charges, including attempted coup d’état, violent abolition of the rule of law, and leading a criminal organization. The case is linked to the January 8, 2023 riots, when thousands of his supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília after he refused to accept electoral defeat to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Prosecutors argued that Bolsonaro deliberately spread misinformation about Brazil’s voting system, fueling unrest that led to violence and destruction of public property. The justices concluded that his actions endangered Brazil’s democratic order and encouraged efforts to overthrow a legitimate election.

Bolsonaro, who has been under house arrest, has denied any wrongdoing and called the charges politically motivated. His legal team confirmed they will appeal the ruling, though analysts believe the judgment already sends a strong signal about protecting democratic institutions.

The verdict has divided Brazil, with critics hailing it as a step forward for justice while Bolsonaro’s supporters claim it is persecution. The outcome could shape Brazil’s political landscape for years to come.

📌 Sources: Reuters, AP News, Al Jazeera