Brazil’s Supreme Court has sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison for plotting to overthrow his successor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The verdict, delivered on Thursday, marks the end of a landmark trial that has divided the nation and drawn criticism from the United States.
Bolsonaro, a 70-year-old far-right leader, was found guilty of plotting to overthrow Lula after his election defeat in October 2022. The court voted 4-1 in favor of conviction, with judges ruling that an armed criminal organization was formed by the defendants. The former president’s defense team has described the sentence as “incredibly excessive” and announced plans to appeal, including at the international level.
The trial has been widely followed in Brazil, with many citizens glued to their screens as the verdict was delivered. The case has driven a deep wedge through Brazilian society, with some viewing it as a vital test of the country’s democracy and others seeing it as a political show trial. The US has also been critical of the trial, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio describing it as a “witch hunt” and warning that the US “will respond accordingly.”
Bolsonaro’s conviction has significant implications for Brazilian politics, with the former president becoming the fourth former head of state to be convicted since the country’s return to democracy in 1985. The verdict has also led to an unprecedented crisis in relations between the US and Brazil, with Washington imposing tariffs and sanctions on Brazilian officials.
The Brazilian government has hit back at US criticism, saying it will not be intimidated by “threats” from the US. Meanwhile, Lula has styled himself as the guardian of Brazil’s sovereignty in the face of alleged US meddling in its affairs. The 79-year-old leader has seen his popularity boosted by the standoff with the US and has indicated that he will run for reelection next year.
As the situation continues to unfold, Brazilians remain divided over the trial and its outcome. While some have welcomed the verdict as a victory for democracy, others have expressed outrage and disappointment. The case is likely to have far-reaching implications for Brazilian politics and its relationships with other countries, particularly the US. With Bolsonaro’s allies vowing to secure Congress’s support for an amnesty bill, the situation is likely to remain volatile in the coming weeks and months.
