Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been found guilty of coup plotting by the Supreme Court for attempting to stay in power after losing the 2022 elections. The decision was made by a majority vote (3 out of 5 judges).
According to Judge Carmen Lucia Antunes Rocha, Bolsonaro tried to undermine democracy and stay in power by force, but Brazilian institutions resisted him. He is currently under house arrest, and his sentence is expected to be announced on Friday, where he could face up to 43 years in prison.
Bolsonaro and 33 others have been charged with a conspiracy to overthrow democracy, including spreading suspicion about the election. The case has also attracted international attention, including from the United States. Under the Trump administration, sanctions have been imposed on Brazilian judges, as well as trade tariffs on Brazil, while the process has been criticized as a “witch hunt.”
