Brazil Supreme Court convicts Jair Bolsonaro of 2022 coup plot
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Bolsonaro faces up to 40 years in prison after the Supreme Court's conviction on five charges, including coup attempt and leading an armed criminal organization.
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Justices of the Brazilian Supreme Court meet for the verdict and sentencing phase of a trial for those charged in an alleged coup plot to keep Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro in office after his 2022 election defeat, in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, Sept 11, 2025. (AP)
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been convicted by a majority of Brazil's Supreme Court of orchestrating a coup attempt following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election. The ruling, delivered by a five-judge panel, marks a historic first, as no other former head of state in Brazil has faced conviction for undermining democratic governance.
Prosecutors detailed that Bolsonaro’s actions to undermine the country's democracy began as early as 2021, with a sustained campaign questioning the integrity of Brazil's electronic voting system. The plot allegedly escalated into an attempt to assassinate President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, his vice president, and Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
These plans culminated in the violent January 8, 2023, riots, during which Bolsonaro supporters stormed Congress, the presidential palace, and the Supreme Court in Brasilia.
Supreme Court’s verdict, legal basis
On September 11, 2025, three of the five justices on the Supreme Court panel voted to convict Bolsonaro on five serious charges: attempting to stage a coup d'état, leading an armed criminal organization, violently seeking to dismantle democratic governance, destroying public property, and damaging protected national heritage sites.
Justice Carmen Lucia, casting the decisive third vote, emphasized that Bolsonaro aimed to systematically erode Brazil's democratic institutions. She described the case as a pivotal confrontation between Brazil's past, present, and future.
Justice Luiz Fux was the lone dissenter, acquitting Bolsonaro of all charges. His decision introduced the possibility of appeals and delayed sentencing, which could push the trial's final resolution closer to the 2026 presidential elections.
An ally of Trump
Bolsonaro's trial sparked intense international debate, particularly from the United States. US President Donald Trump, a vocal Bolsonaro ally, has condemned the proceedings as politically motivated. In July 2025, the Trump administration retaliated with a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports, citing human rights abuses related to Bolsonaro's prosecution.
Trump also sanctioned Justice Alexandre de Moraes and revoked visas for eight Brazilian Supreme Court justices. These diplomatic measures have significantly strained US-Brazil relations, a rare move between two major countries over domestic judicial actions.
Bolsonaro’s political future
Bolsonaro, a former army captain and admirer of Brazil's military dictatorship, remains under house arrest related to another case. He now faces up to 40 years in prison if the full sentence is imposed. Despite being barred from running for office until 2030 in a separate ruling, Bolsonaro continues to assert his intent to run in 2026, pending the outcome of appeals.
The court is expected to announce the final sentencing terms by September 12, 2025.
The trial has deeply polarized Brazil. While many view the conviction as a reaffirmation of democratic accountability, Bolsonaro's supporters regard it as political persecution. Justice Fux's dissenting vote has energized Bolsonaro's base, with Michelle Bolsonaro, the former First Lady of Brazil, declaring it a triumph of justice over "vengeance and lies."
