Rio de Janeiro, 12 September 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has been sentenced to more than 27 years in prison for attempting a coup, the country's Supreme Federal Court (STF) announced on Thursday.

Four of the five judges voted to convict Bolsonaro.

According to prosecutors and the judges, the former president plotted a coup with military officials and allies against the government of his left-wing successor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, following his 2022 election defeat.

According to the prosecution, he had planned to impose a state of emergency and call new elections - but was unable to win the support of the military leadership. 

The verdict makes the 70-year-old the first former Brazilian president to be convicted of attempting a coup after leaving office.

Since further legal remedies are still possible before the Supreme Court, the prison sentence will not be enforced immediately. However, experts say a challenge to the verdict is unlikely.

Court ties Bolsonaro to January 8, 2023, riots

On January 8, 2023, supporters of the right-wing politician stormed Congress, the Supreme Federal Court, and the presidential palace in Brasília. Although Bolsonaro was in the United States that day, the court held him indirectly responsible for the events. His lawyers denied the allegations throughout the proceedings.

The former president did not appear in court himself. Since early August, Bolsonaro has been under house arrest for violations of previous court conditions.

Experts say a review of individual points by the full 11-judge bench would only have been possible if at least two judges had dissented. Bolsonaro's lawyers can still contest formal ambiguities in the ruling, but major substantive changes are unlikely.

The sentence will become final and enforceable only once those issues are resolved.

Judge Alexandre de Moraes described Bolsonaro as the "leader of a criminal organization" and cited multiple pieces of evidence for the attempted coup, including public attacks on the electoral system, secret ministerial meetings, discussions with ambassadors, draft coup decrees, and the violent riots of January 8.

Out of the five judges, only Luiz Fux sided with acquittal, arguing that the evidence did not support the charge of attempted coup.

Several high-ranking military officials and former Cabinet members were also convicted.

Charges included attempted coup d'état, participation in a criminal organization, and damage to protected monuments.

Brazil remains deeply polarized between supporters of left-wing President Lula and backers of his right-wing predecessor Bolsonaro. Some view the criminal proceedings as politically motivated, while others see them as a demonstration of institutional strength.

Experts warn that the coming weeks could be marked by protests.

Trump calls verdict 'very surprising'

US President Donald Trump said he was surprised by the verdict and described Bolsonaro, his close ally, as a "good president," likening the case to attacks he faced.

"That's very much like they tried to do with me, but they didn't get away with it at all," he told reporters.

Trump faced similar accusations over the Washington Capitol attack in 2021 and previously reacted to Bolsonaro's trial by imposing 50% tariffs on numerous Brazilian products and sanctioning judge Moraes.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also criticized the verdict, saying the US would "respond accordingly to this witch hunt" without providing details.

Photo: EPA