Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro has been convicted of attempting a coup to remain in power after losing the 2022 election, marking the first time a former leader in Latin America’s largest economy has been found guilty of trying to overturn a democratic vote. Bolsonaro has consistently denied wrongdoing.
On Thursday, four of the five justices on a Supreme Court panel voted to convict him, sentencing Bolsonaro to 27 years and three months in prison, though he will not be incarcerated immediately.
Prosecutors charged Bolsonaro with five crimes: attempting a coup after losing the presidential race to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, participating in an armed criminal organization, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, damage qualified by violence, and deterioration of listed public heritage.
Evidence presented by the attorney general detailed how Bolsonaro allegedly convened Cabinet members and military officials to discuss issuing an emergency decree that would suspend election results under the guise of investigating unproven electoral fraud claims.
The ruling underscores Brazil’s judiciary taking decisive action to defend democratic institutions in the wake of challenges to electoral legitimacy.
