Jair Bolsonaro Begins 27-Year Prison Term for Brazil Coup Plot
Published 25 November 2025
Highlights
- Brazil's Supreme Court has ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to begin serving a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup.
- Bolsonaro was found guilty of leading a conspiracy to prevent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from taking office after the 2022 election.
- The court also sentenced six of Bolsonaro's co-conspirators, including former ministers and military officials.
- Bolsonaro attempted to tamper with his electronic ankle monitor, citing medicine-induced paranoia.
- The ruling has sparked mixed reactions, with progressive Brazilians celebrating and Bolsonaro supporters condemning the decision.
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Rewritten Article
Jair Bolsonaro Begins 27-Year Prison Term for Brazil Coup Plot
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been ordered by the Supreme Court to commence his 27-year prison sentence following his conviction for orchestrating a coup attempt. The ruling, delivered by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, marks the end of a legal saga that has gripped the nation since Bolsonaro's electoral defeat in 2022.
Conviction and Sentencing
Bolsonaro, who led Brazil from 2019 to 2022, was found guilty in September of leading a criminal conspiracy to prevent his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, from assuming the presidency. The plot included plans to assassinate Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin. However, the conspiracy failed to gain military support, leading to Bolsonaro's conviction alongside six accomplices.
Co-Conspirators and Legal Proceedings
The Supreme Court's decision also mandates the imprisonment of Bolsonaro's co-conspirators, including former Defence Minister Gen Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira and former Minister for Institutional Security Gen Augusto Heleno. These individuals received sentences ranging from 16 to 26 years. Bolsonaro's former justice minister, Anderson Torres, and former spy chief, Alexandre Ramagem, were among those sentenced, with Ramagem reportedly fleeing to the United States to avoid incarceration.
Public Reaction and Political Implications
The decision has elicited a spectrum of reactions across Brazil. Progressive Brazilians, recalling Bolsonaro's controversial presidency marked by environmental and public health crises, have celebrated the ruling. Mustafa Baba-Aissa, a Rio de Janeiro business owner, expressed his satisfaction by decorating his store with banners celebrating Bolsonaro's imprisonment. Conversely, Bolsonaro's supporters have decried the ruling, with some labeling it a political kidnapping.
Bolsonaro's Health and Legal Context
Bolsonaro, who has been under house arrest since August, was taken into custody after attempting to tamper with his electronic ankle monitor. He attributed his actions to paranoia induced by medication. Justice Moraes has ordered that Bolsonaro receive full-time medical care while serving his sentence in a federal police jail in Brasília.
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Scenario Analysis
The imprisonment of Jair Bolsonaro marks a significant moment in Brazil's political landscape, potentially reshaping the nation's future. With Bolsonaro barred from running for public office until 2060, the political vacuum may alter the dynamics of upcoming elections. Experts suggest that this could pave the way for new political figures to emerge, potentially shifting Brazil's political spectrum.
The ruling also underscores the judiciary's role in safeguarding Brazilian democracy, setting a precedent for accountability at the highest levels of government. However, the polarization surrounding Bolsonaro's conviction may deepen existing societal divides, challenging efforts to foster national unity.
As Brazil navigates this turbulent period, the international community will be closely watching the implications of Bolsonaro's imprisonment on the country's democratic institutions and political stability.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been ordered by the Supreme Court to commence his 27-year prison sentence following his conviction for orchestrating a coup attempt. The ruling, delivered by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, marks the end of a legal saga that has gripped the nation since Bolsonaro's electoral defeat in 2022.
Conviction and Sentencing
Bolsonaro, who led Brazil from 2019 to 2022, was found guilty in September of leading a criminal conspiracy to prevent his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, from assuming the presidency. The plot included plans to assassinate Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin. However, the conspiracy failed to gain military support, leading to Bolsonaro's conviction alongside six accomplices.
Co-Conspirators and Legal Proceedings
The Supreme Court's decision also mandates the imprisonment of Bolsonaro's co-conspirators, including former Defence Minister Gen Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira and former Minister for Institutional Security Gen Augusto Heleno. These individuals received sentences ranging from 16 to 26 years. Bolsonaro's former justice minister, Anderson Torres, and former spy chief, Alexandre Ramagem, were among those sentenced, with Ramagem reportedly fleeing to the United States to avoid incarceration.
Public Reaction and Political Implications
The decision has elicited a spectrum of reactions across Brazil. Progressive Brazilians, recalling Bolsonaro's controversial presidency marked by environmental and public health crises, have celebrated the ruling. Mustafa Baba-Aissa, a Rio de Janeiro business owner, expressed his satisfaction by decorating his store with banners celebrating Bolsonaro's imprisonment. Conversely, Bolsonaro's supporters have decried the ruling, with some labeling it a political kidnapping.
Bolsonaro's Health and Legal Context
Bolsonaro, who has been under house arrest since August, was taken into custody after attempting to tamper with his electronic ankle monitor. He attributed his actions to paranoia induced by medication. Justice Moraes has ordered that Bolsonaro receive full-time medical care while serving his sentence in a federal police jail in Brasília.
What this might mean
The imprisonment of Jair Bolsonaro marks a significant moment in Brazil's political landscape, potentially reshaping the nation's future. With Bolsonaro barred from running for public office until 2060, the political vacuum may alter the dynamics of upcoming elections. Experts suggest that this could pave the way for new political figures to emerge, potentially shifting Brazil's political spectrum.
The ruling also underscores the judiciary's role in safeguarding Brazilian democracy, setting a precedent for accountability at the highest levels of government. However, the polarization surrounding Bolsonaro's conviction may deepen existing societal divides, challenging efforts to foster national unity.
As Brazil navigates this turbulent period, the international community will be closely watching the implications of Bolsonaro's imprisonment on the country's democratic institutions and political stability.
