bolsonaro Found guilty of Attempting to Undermine Democratic Transition
A majority of justices on brazil’s Supreme Court panel have found former President Jair Bolsonaro guilty of attempting to illegally retain power following his 2022 election defeat to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. As of late Thursday, three out of five justices had delivered guilty verdicts.
Justice carmen Lucia stated there was substantial evidence demonstrating Bolsonaro acted “with the purpose of eroding democracy and institutions.” Though, Justice Luiz Fux dissented, voting to acquit the 70-year-old former president on all charges.
The conviction will be finalized once the fifth and final justice issues their verdict. Currently under house arrest, Bolsonaro faces a potential prison sentence exceeding 40 years after being found guilty on five charges, including leading a “criminal organisation” to conspire to overthrow Lula. The court panel is scheduled to determine sentencing on Friday.
Fux’s dissenting vote could lead to legal challenges to the ruling and potentially delay its finality, bringing the outcome closer to the 2026 presidential election, for which bolsonaro has indicated his intention to run. He was previously barred from holding office until 2030 by Brazil‘s top electoral court for disseminating unsubstantiated claims regarding the country’s electronic voting system.
The verdict has drawn international reaction,with former U.S. President Donald Trump labeling the trial a “witch-hunt” and announcing 50 percent tariffs on Brazilian goods, sanctions against the presiding judge, and visa revocations for most members of Brazil’s high court. Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with bolsonaro’s conviction on Thursday.
Bolsonaro,a former army captain,built his political career on defending Brazil’s 1964-1985 military dictatorship. He openly expressed admiration for the regime, which was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Brazilians, and once stated Brazil would only change “on the day that we break out in civil war here and do the job that the military regime didn’t do: killing 30,000,” referring to leftists and political opponents.
He capitalized on widespread anti-establishment sentiment during the 2014 “car wash” bribery scandal, which implicated numerous politicians, including Lula (whose conviction was later overturned). This anger propelled him to the presidency in 2018, alongside a wave of far-right lawmakers who afterward hindered Lula’s progressive agenda.
During the 2022 re-election campaign, Bolsonaro’s rhetoric became increasingly assertive, raising concerns about his acceptance of potential electoral defeat.He stated in 2021, “I have three alternatives for my future: being arrested, killed or victory,” adding, ”No man on Earth will threaten me.”
despite the conviction, Bolsonaro maintains a strong base of support within Brazil. Approximately 40,000 supporters demonstrated in Brasilia over the weekend, expressing their discontent and supporting his claim of political targeting. The verdict is anticipated to trigger widespread unrest.
