Bolsonaro Appeals 27-Year Sentence for Failed Coup Plot

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has appealed his 27-year prison sentence for plotting a failed coup after losing the 2022 election. He was convicted of organizing a coup and attempting to abolish democracy. The plan to kill key officials failed for lack of military support. Bolsonaro remains under house arrest while his appeal is reviewed.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s lawyers have filed an appeal against his 27-year prison sentence, which was handed down for his alleged role in orchestrating a failed coup attempt following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election by Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The appeal, submitted on Monday, seeks to overturn the conviction that has further deepened Brazil’s political divisions.

Bolsonaro’s legal team argues that the conviction was politically motivated and that the former president did not directly participate in any plan to overthrow the government. The appeal will be reviewed by Brazil’s Supreme Court, but there is no deadline for when the judges must deliver their decision, leaving the timeline uncertain.

In September, a panel of five Supreme Court judges ruled on Bolsonaro’s case, with four voting to convict him on five separate charges. These charges included participation in an armed criminal organization, attempting to violently abolish democracy, and organizing a coup against the democratically elected government. The verdict marked one of the most severe punishments ever given to a former Brazilian leader.

Prosecutors presented extensive evidence suggesting that Bolsonaro and his allies had drawn up a plan to undermine the country’s democratic system after he lost the 2022 election to President Lula da Silva. According to the case file, the plot went beyond mere rhetoric and involved concrete plans to assassinate key government figures, including Lula, his vice president Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes — one of the judges who later participated in Bolsonaro’s trial.

Investigators said the coup attempt was part of a broader strategy to create chaos and pave the way for military intervention that would restore Bolsonaro to power. However, the plot collapsed after the military leadership refused to back the plan. Prosecutors argued that the lack of military support was the only reason the coup did not materialize.

The former president, who served from 2019 to 2023, has consistently denied any wrongdoing. His supporters claim the charges are part of a political witch hunt aimed at silencing conservative voices in Brazil. Bolsonaro, a former army captain, built his political career on populist rhetoric, strong ties to the military, and fierce opposition to the left-wing Workers’ Party, led by Lula.

Since his conviction, Bolsonaro has been under house arrest in Brasília, where he remains closely monitored by federal authorities. Under Brazilian law, a convicted individual cannot be imprisoned until all appeals are exhausted, meaning Bolsonaro will stay under house arrest while his legal team continues to challenge the verdict.

The case has sparked widespread debate in Brazil, with many seeing it as a crucial test of the nation’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law. Supporters of Lula’s government argue that the conviction proves that even powerful figures are not above the law. Meanwhile, Bolsonaro’s followers have continued to stage protests and online campaigns calling for his release, claiming the judiciary has been weaponized against political opponents.

The Supreme Court has yet to indicate when it will take up the appeal. Legal experts suggest the process could stretch over several months, or even years, as both sides present arguments and additional evidence. For now, the case continues to divide Brazil’s political landscape, with the country still grappling with the lingering effects of the 2022 election and the deep ideological rift between its conservative and progressive factions.