Brazil has entered a turbulent and historic moment in its democratic journey as its Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling against former President Jair Bolsonaro. A five-judge panel convicted the 70-year-old ex-leader, sentencing him to 27 years and three months in prison. This unprecedented decision marked Bolsonaro as the first former president in Brazil’s history to be found guilty of crimes directly associated with the deliberate undermining of democratic institutions. The conviction centered on Bolsonaro’s alleged plot to orchestrate a coup and hold onto power after losing the fiercely contested 2022 election, an outcome that reshaped both Brazil’s political climate and the populist far-right movement that had gathered immense momentum under his leadership.
The ruling was described not only as a judgment on Bolsonaro but also as a symbolic reckoning with Brazil’s complex democratic history. Justice Carmen Lucia, one of the five judges presiding over the case, highlighted that the trial was akin to a meeting point between Brazil’s past, present, and future. Her remarks underscored the fragile democratic legacy of the nation, recalling past struggles with military coups and authoritarian interruptions. According to her, ample evidence was presented to prove that Bolsonaro deliberately acted with the intent of destabilizing Brazil’s institutions and eroding democratic norms, aligning himself with actions designed to inflict lasting harm on the republic’s democratic foundations.
Out of the five judges on the panel, four voted to convict Bolsonaro while only one opted for acquittal. Those who supported conviction held the former president responsible for several serious charges: engaging in an armed criminal organization, organizing a coup, attempting to violently dismantle democracy, and causing damage to government property as well as protected cultural assets. The charges painted a grim picture of Bolsonaro’s final days in power, reflecting a broad and intentional effort to disrupt the peaceful transfer of authority in Brazil.
The conviction did not remain a domestic issue alone, as it quickly triggered waves of international reaction. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has long aligned himself politically and ideologically with Bolsonaro, expressed sharp disapproval of the ruling. He admitted being “surprised” by the outcome but also reaffirmed earlier accusations that the trial represented a politically motivated “witch hunt.” Trump further escalated his response by voicing support for punitive measures, including heavy tariffs and sanctions directed at Brazil’s government and its judiciary, claiming that the case revealed deep flaws in Brazil’s justice system.
The reaction from the current U.S. administration also highlighted the polarization surrounding Bolsonaro’s downfall. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that Washington would “respond accordingly” to what he called the “persecution” of Bolsonaro. In his strongly worded statement, Rubio accused Justice Alexandre de Moraes and other members of Brazil’s Supreme Court of abusing their authority, insisting that the ruling was unjust and fundamentally political. He emphasized that the United States could not remain passive while its regional ally engaged in actions that, in his words, weakened democratic fairness.
On the Brazilian side, Eduardo Bolsonaro, the former president’s son and a sitting congressman, echoed these criticisms while making his own international appeals. Speaking to Reuters, he declared that “a dictatorship is being installed in Brazil” following the verdict, suggesting that his father’s conviction represented not justice but political repression. Eduardo also signaled confidence that additional sanctions from the United States would soon follow, given his ongoing efforts to lobby American officials. Earlier in the year, he had relocated to the U.S. to seek backing from Donald Trump and other allies, and more recently, he met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. During these meetings, he pressed for further economic sanctions against Brazilian authorities involved in the trial, presenting himself as a key figure shaping Washington’s stance on the issue.
Eduardo Bolsonaro also took credit for pushing the U.S. government to impose sweeping economic measures, including a substantial 50% tariff on most Brazilian goods. His statements illustrated a strategy to not only defend his father politically but also to apply pressure on Brazil’s institutions through international economic retaliation. This approach signaled how Bolsonaro’s conviction has transcended Brazil’s borders, evolving into a geopolitical flashpoint that intertwines domestic politics with global diplomatic tensions.
In this way, Bolsonaro’s sentencing represents more than just the downfall of a former president. It is both a test and a turning point for Brazil’s democratic institutions, one that will likely shape its political trajectory for years to come. At the same time, the international backlash—from Trump’s open criticism to Rubio’s threats of U.S. retaliation—ensures that the conviction will reverberate far beyond Brazil, deepening the debates over populism, democracy, and political accountability across the Americas.
