With 4 votes in favor and one abstention, a panel of judges at Brazil's Supreme Court on 11/9 sentenced former president Jair Bolsonaro and 7 accomplices for crimes including participating in an armed criminal organization, orchestrating a coup attempt, seeking to violently overthrow the democratic system, and damaging state property.

Bolsonaro received a sentence of 27 years and 3 months. This marks the first time a former Brazilian president has been convicted of orchestrating a coup, a turning point in the country's political history.

Former president Bolsonaro arriving in Florida, USA, on 22/1/2024. Photo: AFP

The verdict came after a week-long trial held in the same building that Bolsonaro's supporters stormed during the 2022 riots.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who was also on the rioters' target list, stated that Bolsonaro had "publicly declared he would not accept defeat and would not comply with the will of the people," emphasizing that this constituted a coup attempt.

Justice Carmen Lucia affirmed that the case file revealed "a criminal organization" using the internet to attack the court, the electoral system, and electronic voting machines.

Justice Luiz Fux, who abstained, argued that the court lacked jurisdiction because the defendants were no longer in office.

This dissenting opinion did not change the panel's conclusion, but it could provide grounds for Bolsonaro to appeal. If the appeal process is prolonged, the appellate decision might be delayed until close to the 2026 Brazilian presidential election. Bolsonaro has declared his intention to run, despite being currently barred from office.

In the 2022 election, Bolsonaro lost to Lula da Silva by a margin of 50.9% to 49.1%, the narrowest in modern Brazilian history. Bolsonaro refused to concede but did not obstruct the transfer of power to Lula.

A week after Lula's inauguration, Bolsonaro's supporters marched in Brasilia and stormed the Brazilian National Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Presidential Palace, rioting and vandalizing. Security forces subsequently quelled the riots, arresting around 1,500 people.

The 70-year-old former president has repeatedly denied all accusations related to the riots. He has been under house arrest since the beginning of August for violating a ban on publicly threatening officials. He will not be imprisoned until the appeals process is complete.

Thanh Danh (According to Reuters, Washington Post)