Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced this Thursday to 27 years and three months in prison for attempted coup after a historic trial which still plunges the country into polarization a little more. By four votes against one, the Supreme Court judged the former head of the State (2019-2022) guilty of having directed a “Criminal organization” aimed at ensuring his “Authoritarian maintenance in power” After his defeat against Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva at the end of 2022, AFP reports.
According to the prosecution, the project provided in particular the assassination of the current president and did not succeed for lack of support from the military hierarchy. The violence of January 8, 2023, when thousands of supporters had stormed the siege of the institutions in Brasilia, would have formed “The last hope” to materialize this plot. Despite the pressures of Donald Trump, who had argued in his favor, the highest jurisdiction of the country pronounced the heaviest sentence ever inflicted on a former president.
Washington immediately denounced a conviction “Unjust” and threatened with reprisals. Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured that the United States would “answer accordingly”. Brasilia replied that she would not leave herself “Intimide” by these “Threats”. Since the beginning of August, Donald Trump has imposed a punitive surcharge of 50 % on part of the Brazilian exports, causing an unprecedented crisis between the two countries.
Ineligible and residential assigned
The 70 -year -old president is now ineligible until 2030 and remains under house arrest. Absent from the hearing for health reasons, he keeps “Head high to face this persecution”said his eldest son, senator Flavio Bolsonaro. The right now intends to mobilize the parliament around an amnesty project including its leader.
In the streets of Brasilia, the decision aroused trenched reactions: applause broke out in bars retransmitting the hearing, while a few dozen sympathizers met before his home for a “Prayer vigil”. The ex-president’s lawyers denounced pains “Incredibly excessive” and announced the deposit “Appropriate remedies, including internationally”.
Seven former relatives of Jair Bolsonaro, including several ex-ministers and generals, were also sentenced to sentences ranging from two to 26 years in prison. This decision could accelerate the fight for leadership on the right, to just over a year of the 2026 presidential election. Reinforced by the attacks of Washington, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, 79, confirmed his intention to run for a new mandate, presenting himself as champion of the “Sovereignty” Brazilian.
