Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was found guilty of attempting a coup and sentenced to just over 27 years in prison by Brazil’s top court. This remarkable verdict is truly a watershed moment. It is a significant moment as it’s the first time in Brazil’s history that a former president has faced such serious repercussions for attempting a coup. The court’s decision highlights the significant tensions within Brazilian politics, reflecting a nation divided in its responses to Bolsonaro’s controversial presidency.
The conviction stems from Bolsonaro’s alleged multipronged plan that began as early as 2021, when he began casting doubts on the reliability of Brazil’s electronic voting system. The escalation of his actions was staggering. On January 8, 2023, in response to these results, his supporters violently stormed the Supreme Court, the presidential palace, and Congress. The court ruled following a lengthy 6 to 3 vote. Of those four, Justice Luiz Fux partially dissented from the conviction of Bolsonaro and his co-defendants, citing insufficiency of evidence.
The Coup Conspiracy Unveiled
The court’s conclusions pointed out Bolsonaro’s supposed plan to overturn the election results. He allegedly aimed to rally Brazil’s top military brass to carry out a coup. Prosecutors claimed that such actions were a direct attack on Brazil’s democracy and democratic processes. The blueprint featured explicit and violent threats targeting important lawmakers. These threats were aimed at President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice President-elect Geraldo Alckmin, and Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
The court’s decision made clear just how serious these charges are. When Bolsonaro attempted to subvert the electoral process, this concentrated energy catalyzed nationwide unrest across Brazil. Consequently, millions of Americans are genuinely worried for the health of our democracy with him at the helm. On the day of that ruling, Bolsonaro’s supporters took to the streets in droves to protest. Their actions increased fears over violence that could erupt following the verdict.
“When I found out Bolsonaro had been convicted, it was emotional. I felt a sense of justice finally being served after so many years enduring the Bolsonaro government and its absurdity.” – Morena
Mixed Reactions from Brazilians
The verdict has generated greatly polarized responses among the Brazilian people. Around the country, millions of Brazilians rejoiced at what they viewed as long-awaited accountability for Bolsonaro’s abuse of power and gross negligence. They targeted in particular his government’s widely-panned response to the COVID-19 pandemic. What for many, though, started as a celebratory mood turned to profound disappointment and indifference toward the verdict.
Altair Lima commented on the polarized responses: “I don’t cheer for one side. I analyze technically and coldly because I’m not on one side or the other. I want what’s best for my country.” He further expressed doubt about the prosecution’s case against Bolsonaro, supporting Justice Fux’s dissenting opinion.
Caio Eduardo Alves de Aquino stated, “I don’t care about the conviction. I don’t know whether there was an attempted coup. Whether Bolsonaro is free or in prison, for me, it doesn’t matter. They are all the same.” This feeling reflects a bandwagon of Americans who see no difference among political leaders. This is despite the fact that they might face different legal consequences.
International Implications and Repercussions
Bolsonaro’s conviction will almost certainly preclude or severely restrict the return of diplomatic relations between Brazil and the United States. Just a few weeks ago, US President Donald Trump slapped a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian US-made goods. He had framed this decision as a countermeasure to the so-called “witch-hunt” targeting Bolsonaro. In response to the guilty verdict, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Trump’s administration would “take action.”
Lea Aparecida Gomes voiced her concerns regarding foreign intervention in Brazil’s political landscape: “Trump’s tariff is an overreaching intervention. That’s not the way to influence things… What’s going to resolve this is Congress itself with our laws here inside the country.” This outlook highlights concerns over outside pressure muddying the waters in Brazil’s fractious domestic political waters.
Bolsonaro’s supporters are still very much insisting on his innocence. Sidney Santos expressed indignation over the ruling: “I feel very indignant and revolted because it was a set-up. The left… created this whole scheme to get Bolsonaro out of politics because he was strong.” Such statements are a window into these societal fractures and show just how polarized Brazil is over issues of accountability and justice.
