Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) on Thursday (September 11) convicted former President Jair Bolsonaro of plotting a coup to remain in power after losing the 2022 election, a landmark ruling that makes him the first former president in the country’s history convicted for attacking democracy.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes announced that a majority of the court found Bolsonaro guilty of leading an armed criminal organisation, attempting the violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, organising a coup d’état, and causing qualified damage to federal property and protected cultural assets.

De Moraes set Bolsonaro’s sentence at 27 years and 3 months — comprising 24 years and 9 months of imprisonment and 2 years and 6 months of detention — along with 124 days of fines.

Justice Cristiano Zanin, said the evidence showed the attempted coup was “carefully planned” and already underway, with actions calibrated to find “the best moment for its launch,” and that Bolsonaro, “as the main beneficiary,” knew of and contributed to the plot through acts and omissions. Zanin concluded by voting to accept in full the complaint filed by the Prosecutor General’s Office.

The majority decision underscored the court’s view that Bolsonaro sought to erode democratic institutions. J

Four of the five justices on the panel voted to convict; one voted to acquit. The ruling delivers a profound blow to the far-right movement Bolsonaro helped galvanize and adds Brazil to a growing list of democracies holding high-profile figures accountable for anti-democratic actions.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Brazil’s Supreme Court convicts Jair Bolsonaro of coup plotting, sentences him to 27 years

VIDEO SHOWS: BRAZILIAN SUPREME COURT DURING SESSION / SOUNDBITES BY SUPREME FEDERAL TRIBUNAL (STF) MINISTERS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: BRASILIA, BRAZIL (SEPTEMBER 11, 2025) (JUSTICE TV - Access all)

1. SUPREME COURT DURING SESSION

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) SUPREME FEDERAL TRIBUNAL (STF) MINISTER, CRISTIANO ZANIN, SAYING:

“In short, all the elements reveal that the attempted coup d'état had been carefully planned and was already underway with actions aimed at enabling the best moment for its launch, counting on the knowledge and contribution through actions and omissions of the defendant Jair Messias Bolsonaro, the main beneficiary of the acts, therefore the merits of the punitive detention in relation to him are also imperative.”

3. SUPREME COURT DURING SESSION

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) SUPREME FEDERAL TRIBUNAL (STF) MINISTER, CRISTIANO ZANIN ,SAYING:

"With this presentation of the vote, I conclude that I fully agree with the reporting minister Alexandre de Moraes in judging the complaint filed by the Republic Attorney General to be fully admissible, this is the vote."

5. ZANIN SPEAKING

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) SUPREME FEDERAL TRIBUNAL (STF) MINISTER, ALEXANDRE DE MORAES, SAYING:

“The defendant Jair Messias Bolsonaro was convicted by a majority of the crimes here specific to leading an armed criminal organisation, in addition to attempted violent abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law, coup d'état, damage qualified by violence and serious threat against the Union's property and considerable damage to the victim and deterioration of the listed property.”

7. MINISTER SPEAKING DURING SESSION

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) SUPREME FEDERAL TRIBUNAL (STF) MINISTERMINISTER, ALEXANDRE DE MORAES, SAYING:

“I set the final sentence for the defendant Jair Messias Bolsonaro at 27 years and 3 months, being 24 years and 9 months of imprisonment and 2 years and 6 months of detention, in addition to 124 days of fine.”

9. MINISTERS DISCUSSING DURING SESSION