Brazil’s supreme court finds Bolsonaro guilty of plotting military coup

Politics & Elections
1

In the runoff of the 2022 general election, Bolsonaro lost to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.[20] On 8 January 2023, his supporters stormed federal government buildings, calling for a coup d’état. On 30 June, the Superior Electoral Court blocked Bolsonaro from seeking office until 2030 for attempting to undermine the validity of the election through his unfounded claims of voter fraud, and for abusing his power by using government communication channels to both promote his campaign and to allege fraud. Testimonies from military officials showed that Bolsonaro had allegedly planned a self-coup with the military to keep himself in power.[21]

In November 2024, Bolsonaro was formally accused by the Federal Police of multiple crimes related to the alleged coup.[22] He was charged in February 2025,[23] and the Supreme Court ruled he must stand trial.

Considering the big tariffs Trump placed on Brazil just for trying him, one wonders what Trump will do now.

2

Never thought I’d be jealous of Brazil.

3

Good for Brazil, having a Supreme Court that cares about a leader attempting to ignore the results of an election to stay in power. Had to gag when a talking head on television said that the US might increase tariffs ON Brazil in retaliation. No, the US might increase tariffs on US customers buying Brazilian products. If the media would phrase things in those terms perhaps there wouldn’t be widespread confusion about who pays tariffs.

4

Shows that you don’t like football :grinning_face:

5

Finally some consequences for this kind of bastards.
I hope Milei (President of Argentina and confessed Bolsonaro admirer) is taking a good look at this and canceling any plans to imitate his friend.
Though the crucial difference may be that when Bolsonaro tried to pull his trick Biden was president of the U.S. whereas now…

6

Haha, true. I didn’t really mean it as as dig at Brazil, though. It’s just something you never imagine happening in your own country. Until it does.

I am happy for Brazil. May it be a shining beacon to others facing down political terror.

I can also hope it gives Trump the slightest pause.

7

Sentence announced:

8

I just saw the 27-year sentence on CNN. In a better world, Trump would have received the same sentence as his Brazilian pal for exactly the same treachery.

9

So it’s Brazil that is the land of truth, justice and bikini wax way! Let freedom ring.

10

Wouldn’t that be “cruel and unusual punishment”?

11

I’ve been to Copacabana and Ipanema, I think that is voluntary & common rather than cruel & unusual.

12

I wonder where they got that idea? :smirking_face:

Bolsonaro only won his term because the previous president, Lula, was in jail for corruption during the 2018 election. Now Lula is president again, and Bolsonaro will be jailed instead. It has a nice symmetry.

Glenn Greenwald was instrumental in getting Lula’s conviction overturned, and back then Bolsonaro threatened to deport him. I wonder if he will do the same for Bolsonaro?

13

I’m glad to see Brazil holding a former leader accountable for trying to overthrow democracy, but I’m really confused about how the legal system works. Why did the Supreme Court hold the trial itself? And since this was the Supreme Court can the verdict be appealed?

14

Also, why 27 years and three months?

15

I don’t know anything about the court, but the Wikipedia article indicates that it specialises in constitutional issues, and has original jurisdiction. It doesn’t mention jurisdiction over the president and coups, but it may be that’s part of its original jurisdiction?

16

Bolsonaro’s political influence in Brazil could endure despite his conviction

I believe in the rule of law and so in that sense support the conviction. But I do not see why putting him in prison (which sounds a bit unlikely) would help Brazilian politics.

17

The three months is for being a very naughty boy.