Brazil’s Supreme Court has once again made headlines by unanimously rejecting the appeal of former president Jair Bolsonaro against his 27-year prison sentence. The decision came from a five-member panel of the country’s highest court, marking a major legal setback for the controversial leader.
Brazil’s Top Court Rules Against Former President Jair Bolsonaro
The court announced the ruling on Friday after Bolsonaro’s defense team presented weeks of legal arguments. His lawyers had appealed the decision that sentenced him for allegedly plotting a coup to stay in power after losing the 2022 presidential election.
According to court officials, Justices Flavio Dino, Alexandre de Moraes, Cristiano Zanin, and Carmen Lucia voted to reject Bolsonaro’s appeal. The fifth seat on the panel has remained vacant since October, but the four votes were enough to make the decision final.
Under Brazilian law, the Supreme Court allows convicted defendants to request a major appeal only when at least two justices disagree with the decision. Since only one justice dissented earlier, Bolsonaro’s lawyers filed a smaller motion instead. They asked the court to review parts of the verdict, including a possible reduction in prison time, but the panel dismissed their request entirely.
For now, authorities keep Bolsonaro under house arrest, where he has spent the past three months for violating precautionary measures in a related case. Prosecutors accuse him of trying to convince U.S. President Donald Trump to interfere in his legal troubles — a claim both leaders deny.
Why Bolsonaro Was Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison
In September, Brazil’s Supreme Court sentenced Bolsonaro to 27 years and three months in prison after finding him guilty of five serious crimes. The charges included participating in an armed criminal group, attempting to violently abolish democracy, and organizing a coup to overturn the 2022 election results.
Bolsonaro’s trial was one of the most closely watched legal proceedings in Brazil’s modern history. The former president, who had governed the country from 2019 to 2022, faced accusations of inciting attacks on democratic institutions, especially after his supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília following his electoral loss.
While Bolsonaro continues to deny any wrongdoing, the evidence presented in court pointed to his role in organizing meetings and communications with military figures and allies who sought to challenge the election outcome.
Court insiders say authorities will not transfer Bolsonaro to prison immediately. He will begin serving his full sentence only after he exhausts all legal appeals, which could happen as soon as this month.
Bolsonaro’s legal team says they will request that he serve his sentence under house arrest instead of in a prison facility. They base the request on his ongoing health problems, particularly the intestinal issues that have troubled him since a stabbing during his 2018 campaign rally. The former president has undergone six surgeries since then, including a 12-hour operation in April this year.
International Reactions and Ongoing Family Ties to the Case
The case has drawn attention beyond Brazil’s borders, particularly because of Bolsonaro’s alleged connections to Donald Trump. Reports suggest that Bolsonaro attempted to persuade Trump to intervene in his criminal case, but Brazil’s prosecutor general decided not to press charges over that specific accusation.
However, the Supreme Court determined that Bolsonaro’s actions violated his precautionary measures, leading to his current house arrest. A justice explained that allowing Bolsonaro full freedom could pose “risks to democracy”, given his history of defying court orders and his conviction in the coup plot.
Trump has actively defended Bolsonaro, describing the case as a “witch hunt” and claiming political motives behind it. In a dramatic move, Trump’s administration responded by imposing high tariffs on U.S. imports of Brazilian goods, sanctioning the Brazilian judge overseeing Bolsonaro’s trial, and revoking visas for several Brazilian officials involved in the case.
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Bolsonaro’s family continues to face legal troubles as his son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, who lives in the United States, faces charges tied to the same coup-plot case. The Supreme Court panel will vote later this month on whether to name him a defendant.
Bolsonaro’s lawyers insist he is innocent and say the charges are politically motivated. They plan to appeal again, though the chances of success remain slim.