# Brazil’s supreme court finds Bolsonaro guilty of plotting military coup **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [September 11, 2025, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-s-supreme-court-finds-bolsonaro-guilty-of-plotting-military-coup/1022966 "2025-09-11T20:18:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2025, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-s-supreme-court-finds-bolsonaro-guilty-of-plotting-military-coup/1022966/1 "2025-09-11T20:18:19Z")
> In the runoff of [the 2022 general election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Brazilian_general_election "2022 Brazilian general election"), Bolsonaro lost to [Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luiz_In%C3%A1cio_Lula_da_Silva "Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva").[[20]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jair_Bolsonaro#cite_note-20) On 8 January 2023, his supporters [stormed federal government buildings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8_January_Bras%C3%ADlia_attacks "8 January Brasília attacks"), calling for a [coup d’état](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coup_d%27%C3%A9tat "Coup d'état"). On 30 June, the [Superior Electoral Court](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superior_Electoral_Court "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](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Brazilian_coup_plot "2022 Brazilian coup plot") with the military to keep himself in power.[[21]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jair_Bolsonaro#cite_note-21) > > In November 2024, Bolsonaro was formally accused by the Federal Police of multiple crimes related to the alleged coup.[[22]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jair_Bolsonaro#cite_note-22) He was charged in February 2025,[[23]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jair_Bolsonaro#cite_note-23) and the Supreme Court ruled he must stand trial. > **[Jair Bolsonaro](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jair_Bolsonaro)** > > Jair Messias Bolsonaro (.mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}Brazilian Portuguese: \[ʒaˈiʁ meˈsi.ɐz bowsoˈnaɾu\]; born 21 March 1955) is a Brazilian politician and former military officer who served as the 38th president of Brazil from 2019 to 2023. He previously served as a member of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies from 1991 to 2019. > Bor... > **[Brazil’s supreme court finds Bolsonaro guilty of plotting military coup](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/11/brazil-supreme-court-bolsonaro-guilty-coup)** > > Former president faces decades-long jail sentence for seeking to forcibly cling to power after losing 2022 election Considering the big tariffs Trump placed on Brazil just for trying him, one wonders what Trump will do now. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2025, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-s-supreme-court-finds-bolsonaro-guilty-of-plotting-military-coup/1022966/2 "2025-09-11T20:25:14Z")
Never thought I’d be jealous of Brazil. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2025, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-s-supreme-court-finds-bolsonaro-guilty-of-plotting-military-coup/1022966/3 "2025-09-11T21:36:42Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2025, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-s-supreme-court-finds-bolsonaro-guilty-of-plotting-military-coup/1022966/4 "2025-09-11T22:27:16Z")
Shows that you don’t like football 😀 ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2025, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-s-supreme-court-finds-bolsonaro-guilty-of-plotting-military-coup/1022966/5 "2025-09-11T22:30:26Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2025, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-s-supreme-court-finds-bolsonaro-guilty-of-plotting-military-coup/1022966/6 "2025-09-12T00:06:59Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > Shows that you don’t like football 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. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2025, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-s-supreme-court-finds-bolsonaro-guilty-of-plotting-military-coup/1022966/7 "2025-09-12T00:29:02Z")
Sentence announced: > **[Brazilian Supreme Court panel sentences Bolsonaro to more than 27 years in...](https://apnews.com/article/brazil-bolsonaro-supreme-court-trial-coup-attempt-f95765c36dbbdc3355ad3af0b70eacf6)** > > A panel of Brazilian Supreme Court justices has sentenced former president Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years and three months in prison after convicting him of attempting a coup to remain in office. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2025, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-s-supreme-court-finds-bolsonaro-guilty-of-plotting-military-coup/1022966/8 "2025-09-12T00:47:01Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2025, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-s-supreme-court-finds-bolsonaro-guilty-of-plotting-military-coup/1022966/9 "2025-09-12T01:32:02Z")
So it’s Brazil that is the land of truth, justice and bikini wax way! Let freedom ring. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2025, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-s-supreme-court-finds-bolsonaro-guilty-of-plotting-military-coup/1022966/10 "2025-09-12T11:20:14Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > and bikini wax Wouldn’t that be “cruel and unusual punishment”? ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2025, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-s-supreme-court-finds-bolsonaro-guilty-of-plotting-military-coup/1022966/11 "2025-09-12T12:59:40Z")
I’ve been to Copacabana and Ipanema, I think that is voluntary & common rather than cruel & unusual. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2025, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-s-supreme-court-finds-bolsonaro-guilty-of-plotting-military-coup/1022966/12 "2025-09-12T13:01:15Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > On 8 January 2023, his supporters [stormed federal government buildings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8_January_Bras%C3%ADlia_attacks), calling for a [coup d’état](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coup_d%27%C3%A9tat). I wonder where they got that idea? 😏 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? ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2025, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-s-supreme-court-finds-bolsonaro-guilty-of-plotting-military-coup/1022966/13 "2025-09-12T23:33:31Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2025, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-s-supreme-court-finds-bolsonaro-guilty-of-plotting-military-coup/1022966/14 "2025-09-13T00:17:07Z")
Also, why 27 years _and three months_? ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2025, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-s-supreme-court-finds-bolsonaro-guilty-of-plotting-military-coup/1022966/15 "2025-09-13T00:28:54Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > 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? 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? > [@](#): > > The **Supreme Federal Court** ([Portuguese](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portuguese_language): _Supremo Tribunal Federal_ , [[suˈpɾẽmu tɾibuˈnaw fedeˈɾaw]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Portuguese), abbreviated **STF** ) is the [supreme court](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_court) (court of last resort) of [Brazil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil), serving primarily as the country’s [Constitutional Court](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_Court). > … > Alongside its appeal competence, mostly by the Extraordinary Appeal (_Recurso Extraordinário_), the Court has a small range of cases of [original jurisdiction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Original_jurisdiction), including the power of [judicial review](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judicial_review), judging the [constitutionality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutionality) of laws passed by the [National Congress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Congress_of_Brazil), through a Direct Action of Unconstitutionality (_Ação Direta de Inconstitucionalidade_, or ADI). There are also other mechanisms for reaching the Court directly … ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2025, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-s-supreme-court-finds-bolsonaro-guilty-of-plotting-military-coup/1022966/16 "2025-09-13T23:52:07Z")
[Bolsonaro’s political influence in Brazil could endure despite his conviction](https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/bolsonaros-political-influence-brazil-endure-despite-conviction-125533904) > [@](#): > > in a hypothetical election scenario . . . Bolsonaro would have 45.4% of the vote, while Lula would have 44.6%. The poll surveyed 6,238 voters online from Aug. 20 to 25, 2025. The margin of error is 1 percentage point. > > The country is also divided over Bolsonaro’s conviction. A Datafolha poll from August found that 48% of Brazilians wanted to see Bolsonaro imprisoned, while 46% wanted him to remain free. . . . > > Esther Solano, a sociologist at the Federal University of Sao Paulo and who has tracked Bolsonaro voters and evangelicals since 2017, calls it “Bolsonarism 2.0.” > > Her surveys show supporters believe Bolsonaro was crucial to launching a conservative crusade, but the movement is now strong enough to outlive him. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2025, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/brazil-s-supreme-court-finds-bolsonaro-guilty-of-plotting-military-coup/1022966/17 "2025-09-13T23:58:33Z")
The three months is for being a very naughty boy.