Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison after being found guilty of plotting a military coup to cling to power following his 2022 election loss.

A panel of five Supreme Court justices ruled against him on Wednesday, with four voting to convict and one dissenting. The decision also bars Bolsonaro from holding public office until 2033. He remains under house arrest as a flight risk and did not attend the sentencing in person.

Bolsonaro’s lawyers denounced the punishment as “absurdly excessive” and vowed to appeal. 

The former leader has long dismissed the proceedings as a “witch hunt” designed to stop him from contesting the 2026 presidential election though he had already been barred from public office over separate charges.

The ruling triggered strong reactions abroad. 

US President Donald Trump, who has previously defended Bolsonaro, said the verdict was “very surprising,” likening it to his own legal troubles. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the judgment as unjust and warned of consequences.

Brazil’s foreign ministry fired back, calling Rubio’s comments a “threat” that would not intimidate the country’s democracy, insisting the conviction was based on “compelling evidence.”

Erizia Rubyjeana 

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