Brazil’s Supreme Court has found former president Jair Bolsonaro guilty of plotting to overturn the results of the October 2022 election, in a historic ruling that could see the far-right leader face years behind bars.
In a decisive 4–1 vote, the justices concluded that Bolsonaro, 70, conspired to claw back power after losing to leftist incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The verdict marks the most dramatic escalation yet in the ongoing standoff between Bolsonaro and Brazil’s judiciary.
In August, the ex-president was placed under house arrest for violating a social media ban, further tightening restrictions on his movements and communications.
He remains prohibited from using phones, receiving visitors (other than his lawyers), or issuing public statements, with prosecutors warning that any breach could trigger immediate detention.
According to investigators, Bolsonaro and seven co-defendants sought to enlist military backing for a failed coup attempt. Their plot collapsed after the armed forces refused to participate.
The tensions culminated in January 2023, when Bolsonaro’s supporters stormed Congress in Brasília, ransacking chambers and clashing with police — an assault widely compared to the January 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riot.
The ruling also dashes Bolsonaro’s hopes of staging a political comeback in the 2026 presidential race, despite being barred from seeking office.
The case has drawn international attention. U.S. President Donald Trump denounced the conviction as a “very surprising” move and blasted it as a politically motivated “witch hunt.” In retaliation, Trump announced sweeping new tariffs on Brazilian goods, straining ties with Washington’s key South American ally.
Meanwhile, President Lula, 79, who returned to power in 2023, has hinted he may pursue a fourth term in office, depending on his health.
The conviction cements Bolsonaro’s fall from grace — from Brazil’s highest office to facing possible prison time for what the court deemed a grave threat to the nation’s democracy.
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