The former president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, has been sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison after being found guilty of plotting a military coup.
A panel of five Supreme Court justices handed down the sentence just hours after they had convicted the former leader.
They ruled he was guilty of leading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Four of the justices found him guilty while one voted to acquit him. Bolsonaro's lawyers have called the sentence 'absurdly excessive' and said that they would file 'the appropriate appeals'.
The Supreme Court panel also barred him from running for public office until 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.
Bolsonaro, who was put under house arrest after being deemed a flight risk, did not attend this final phase of the trial in person. However, he has in the past claimed it was designed to prevent him from running in the 2026 presidential election - despite already being barred from public office on separate charges. He has also labeled it a 'witch hunt'.
His sentiments have found a sympathizer in US President Donald Trump, who imposed tariffs on Brazilian goods, framing them as retaliation for Bolsonaro's prosecution. Trump stated his surprise at the verdict and likened it to his own legal battles.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also expressed concern over the Supreme Court's decision, labeling it an 'unjust' ruling. The Brazilian government responded firmly, defending its democracy against foreign threats.
As Bolsonaro, now 70, faces the likelihood of spending the rest of his life in prison, he intends to argue for continued house arrest and a reduced sentence. His legal team plans to appeal the convictions, although challenges remain due to the court's majority ruling against him.
Prosecutors accused Bolsonaro of plotting for power well before the election, including making proposals to military leaders and promoting distrust in the electoral system. His attempts culminated in a failed coup attempt, which involved storms on government buildings by his supporters earlier in the year.
The Supreme Court justices emphasized the threat to democracy posed by such attempts, with notable reference to Brazil's historical struggle against authoritarianism and dictatorship.
The dissenting voice on the panel, Luiz Fux, maintained that the accusations were unfounded, but the majority voiced strong warnings against the rising tides of anti-democratic actions.
Correction 12/9/2025: This article has been amended to clarify that Bolsonaro is barred from public office until 2060 - not 2033 as previously reported.
