Bolsonaro Ordered to Begin 27-Year Prison Term Over 2022 Coup Plot

Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to begin serving a prison sentence of 27 years and three months for his role in plotting a coup after losing the 2022 presidential election. Justice Alexandre de Moraes ruled on Tuesday that the case had reached its final judgment, leaving no room for further appeals.

Bolsonaro, 70, was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his grip on power following his defeat to left-wing candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He will serve his sentence in a federal police facility in the capital, Brasília, where he has been detained since Saturday after being deemed a flight risk and removed from home detention.

Court Records Detail Attempted Ankle Monitor Tampering

Documents from a recent hearing show Bolsonaro admitted to attempting to tamper with his ankle monitor using a soldering iron. He told the court that he “came to his senses” before fleeing and attributed the damage to medicine-induced paranoia rather than an intent to escape.

Justice Moraes has ordered that Bolsonaro receive full-time medical care while in custody. His medical team has previously reported a decline in his health, raising concerns over his ability to endure prolonged incarceration.

Alleged Assassination Plans and Military Involvement

When Bolsonaro was found guilty in September, Supreme Court justices cited evidence suggesting he was aware of plans to assassinate President Lula and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, as well as to detain and execute Justice Moraes, who has presided over his trial.

The conspiracy reportedly sought support from Brazil’s military but failed to gain backing from army and air force commanders. Lula was inaugurated on 1 January 2023 without incident, though violent unrest followed a week later. On 8 January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília. Security forces intervened, arresting approximately 1,500 individuals.

Court findings indicate that Bolsonaro incited the riots in an effort to provoke military intervention and restore him to power. In addition to his prison sentence, Bolsonaro is barred from running for public office until 2060, eight years after the conclusion of his sentence.

Co-Conspirators Also Face Sentences

Justice Moraes has also mandated that other individuals convicted alongside Bolsonaro begin serving their sentences. Among them are General Augusto Heleno, former minister of institutional security, and General Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira, former defense minister.

Bolsonaro has consistently characterized the trial as a politically motivated “witch hunt” intended to prevent his candidacy in the 2026 presidential election. Legal analysts note, however, that the ruling reflects the judiciary’s broader effort to uphold democratic norms following unprecedented challenges to Brazil’s electoral system.

Context: Brazil’s Democratic Tensions

The events surrounding Bolsonaro’s plot and subsequent unrest highlight deep political polarization in Brazil. His tenure was marked by repeated challenges to electoral legitimacy, widespread misinformation, and confrontations with institutions overseeing the democratic process. The January 2023 riots recall the 2021 U.S. Capitol attack in their scale and symbolic targeting of democratic institutions, underscoring the fragility of governance when political leaders reject electoral outcomes.

Brazilian courts have emphasized the importance of deterring future anti-democratic movements, signaling that high-ranking officials are not immune to prosecution for actions that threaten the constitutional order. International observers have described the Supreme Court’s rulings as a crucial step in defending democratic processes in Latin America’s largest economy.