Bolsonaro Conviction: Majority of Judges Affirm Disqualification From Office
Rio de Janeiro – A majority of Brazil’s electoral court judges have affirmed the conviction of former President Jair Bolsonaro, disqualifying him from holding public office until 2030. the ruling, delivered on September 11, 2025, stems from accusations of abuse of power and misuse of official communication during the 2022 presidential election.
The decision intensifies political tensions within Brazil and internationally. Bolsonaro repeatedly maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings.The indictment also strained relations between current Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and former U.S. president Donald Trump,who had consistently praised bolsonaro and,in a separate action,imposed tariffs on Brazilian goods,citing retaliation for what he termed “insidious attacks by Brazil on free elections.”
The case centered on a televised meeting Bolsonaro held with foreign ambassadors in July 2022, where he leveled unsubstantiated claims of fraud against Brazil’s electronic voting system. Electoral authorities argued this constituted an attempt to undermine confidence in the electoral process.
