Former Brazilian President Bolsonaro gets 27-Year sentence for plotting coup

In a landmark ruling, Brazil's Supreme Court has sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years and three months in prison for orchestrating a failed plot to overturn the 2022 election results and dismantle the country's democratic institutions. The verdict marks a significant victory for democratic institutions in Latin America's largest democracy.

Bolsonaro was found guilty of leading a conspiracy to annul the election of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, dissolve the Supreme Court, and grant sweeping powers to the military. The plot also included plans to assassinate Lula and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw the 2022 elections and subsequent investigations into Bolsonaro.

The sentence was handed down by a five-judge panel, with four justices voting to convict and one dissenting voice. Bolsonaro's lawyers have condemned the sentence as "absurdly excessive" and plan to file appeals. The former president was under house arrest before the ruling due to concerns he might flee the country.

The verdict has strained relations between Brasília and Washington, with US President Donald Trump publicly condemning the conviction. Trump's administration had reportedly pressured Brazil to drop the case, threatening steep tariffs and sanctions. In response to the guilty verdict, Trump expressed surprise and drew parallels to his own experiences.

The ruling underscores Brazil's ongoing struggle to protect its democratic institutions from authoritarian threats. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes emphasized that "democracy must be defended at all costs," highlighting the significance of this verdict in upholding the rule of law.