Bolsonaro Gets 27 Years in Jail for Coup Plan - Advanced English

Brazil’s Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling, sentencing former president Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years and 3 months in prison for orchestrating a coup conspiracy following his 2022 electoral defeat. The majority of justices determined that Bolsonaro spearheaded a criminal enterprise aimed at destabilizing democratic institutions between mid-2021 and early 2023.

The court’s judgment emphasized his role in fueling the January 8, 2023 insurrection, when mobs of his supporters stormed Congress, the Supreme Court, and the presidential palace. Justices also highlighted his systematic campaign to discredit Brazil’s electronic voting system and erode public trust in electoral outcomes.

With four of five justices voting to convict, the decision sets a precedent in Brazil’s modern history: never before has a former head of state been held criminally accountable for conspiring against democratic order. Analysts view the ruling as both a judicial milestone and a cautionary signal to political leaders tempted to challenge institutional frameworks.

Although Bolsonaro rejected the accusations and intends to appeal, the court underscored that evidence—ranging from leaked recordings to testimony from allies—firmly tied him to the plot. The verdict is expected to reshape Brazil’s political landscape for years to come.