Brasilia, Brazil – Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has been ordered to begin serving a 27-year prison sentence for orchestrating a failed coup aimed at preventing Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from taking office after the 2022 elections. Bolsonaro, 70, was convicted for leading a conspiracy that included plans to assassinate Lula and his running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and was sentenced in September by Brazil’s Supreme Court.
The coup plot, which ultimately failed due to lack of support from military leaders, was described by the court as an attempt to “annihilate” Brazilian democracy and return the country to dictatorship. After exhausting all appeals, the Supreme Court ruled that Bolsonaro should now serve his sentence in a 12-square-meter room at police headquarters in Brasília, a secure space designed for protected prisoners.
Co-Conspirators Also Begin Sentences
Six of Bolsonaro’s co-conspirators began serving their sentences alongside him:
- Gen. Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira, former defense minister – 19 years
- Gen. Augusto Heleno, former minister for institutional security – 21 years
- Adm. Almir Garnier Santos, former navy commander – 24 years
- Gen. Walter Braga Netto, former defense minister – 26 years (already in custody)
- Anderson Torres, former justice minister – 24 years
- Alexandre Ramagem, former intelligence chief – 16 years (currently in the U.S., evading imprisonment)
The arrests highlight the far-reaching scope of the plot, which included top military and government officials.
Bolsonaro’s Arrest and House Detention
Prior to imprisonment, Bolsonaro was under house arrest but was taken into preventive custody after tampering with his electronic ankle tag using a soldering iron, raising concerns that he might flee the country. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes cited Bolsonaro’s proximity to the U.S. embassy and ties to former President Donald Trump as potential factors in an attempted escape.
Bolsonaro denies trying to flee and claims his actions were influenced by paranoia linked to medications he was taking. His family has described him as psychologically devastated.
Public Reaction and Political Implications
The imprisonment has prompted mixed reactions across Brazil:
- Progressives celebrated Bolsonaro’s incarceration, recalling his presidency as a period of environmental destruction, international isolation, and poor handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. One Rio de Janeiro shopkeeper decorated his store with banners reading, “Bolsonaro’s in jail!”
- Supporters, known as Bolsonaristas, denounced the move as a political witch-hunt, claiming the former president is a victim of persecution and vowing to continue their movement despite his imprisonment.
Experts note that Bolsonaro’s political influence has declined sharply, with recent polls showing only 13% of voters consistently supporting him, and rallies drawing significantly smaller crowds than during his presidency. Political scientists suggest his detention may benefit right-wing politicians seeking to inherit his support while reducing anti-democratic extremism in Brazil.
Historical Context
Bolsonaro’s imprisonment marks the fourth time a former Brazilian president has been jailed since the end of the military dictatorship in 1985. Previous examples include Fernando Collor de Mello, who served a corruption sentence at home due to health issues. Brazil’s political landscape has long been shaped by legal battles involving both left- and right-wing leaders, with Lula himself serving 18 months in prison before his conviction was overturned.
With Bolsonaro sidelined, Brazil’s conservative electorate faces uncertainty ahead of the 2026 presidential elections, while Lula, now 80, has announced his candidacy for a fourth term.
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