Jair Bolsonaro Begins 27-Year Prison Sentence for Military Coup Plot

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has commenced a 27-year prison sentence following his conviction for allegedly plotting a military coup and undermining democratic institutions, as reported by The Washington Post on Tuesday, November 25, 2025. This landmark decision marks a significant legal and political development in Brazil's history.

The Supreme Court's final ruling upheld Bolsonaro's conviction, exhausting all avenues for appeal, according to cbc News. He was ordered to begin his sentence at the federal police headquarters in Brasília, a move many in the South American nation doubted would ever materialize.

Bolsonaro was initially convicted in September 2025 for his role in a conspiracy to remain in power after losing the 2022 presidential election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, The Times of Israel stated. The charges included attempting a coup and the violent abolition of the democratic rule of law.

His incarceration followed a preventive arrest on Saturday, November 22, 2025, after authorities alleged he tampered with his ankle monitor while under house arrest, PBS News reported. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, overseeing the case, dismissed Bolsonaro's claim of "hallucinations" for the act.

This historic imprisonment of a former president for attempting to subvert democracy has sent shockwaves across Brazil and garnered international attention, according to Al Arabiya. President Lula da Silva remarked that Brazil had offered the world a lesson in democracy.

The verdict and subsequent imprisonment have deeply polarized public opinion, with supporters protesting outside the federal police headquarters and opponents celebrating the judicial outcome, Evrim Ağacı noted. The Washington Post highlighted the astonishment among many Brazilians who believed Bolsonaro would evade incarceration.

• The conviction of Jair Bolsonaro stems from a comprehensive investigation into efforts to overturn the 2022 presidential election results, culminating in the January 8, 2023, attacks on government buildings in Brasília. According to wikipedia, a mob of Bolsonaro's supporters invaded the Supreme Federal Court, National Congress Palace, and Planalto Presidential Palace, seeking to incite a military intervention and reinstate Bolsonaro.
• Key stakeholders in this complex legal battle include former President Bolsonaro, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes who oversaw the prosecution, and current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The Guardian reported that the alleged plot also included plans to assassinate Lula and his running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, which ultimately foundered due to a lack of military support.
• The legal timeline saw Bolsonaro formally accused by the Federal Police in November 2024, followed by his indictment in February 2025, as detailed by JURIST. The trial took place between September 2 and 11, 2025, leading to his conviction, with the final appeals rejected by the Supreme Court on November 25, 2025.
• Bolsonaro was found guilty of multiple charges, including leading an armed criminal organization, attempting the violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, and aggravated damage to state assets, Global News stated. These charges reflect a concerted effort to undermine the constitutional order and prevent a peaceful transfer of power.
• Currently, Bolsonaro is serving his sentence in a specially prepared 12-square-meter cell at the federal police headquarters in Brasília, equipped with a bed, private bathroom, air conditioning, TV, and desk, CBC News confirmed. This arrangement ensures he has no contact with other inmates, a detail also reported by pbs News.
• Reactions to the sentencing have been starkly divided; while some Brazilians celebrated the upholding of democratic principles, Bolsonaro's son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, described the prosecution as "psychological torture" and a "rigged game," according to The Japan Times. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, a Bolsonaro ally, had previously called the case a "witch hunt" and imposed sanctions on Brazil, as noted by Al Jazeera.
• The imprisonment of a former head of state for attempting a coup carries profound implications for Brazilian democracy, setting a precedent that even the highest office is not above the law. The Hindu highlighted that this event underscores the resilience of Brazil's democratic institutions against severe challenges.
• This situation is not entirely unprecedented in Brazil's recent history, as former presidents Michel Temer and Lula da Silva have also faced imprisonment, and Fernando Collor de Mello is currently under house arrest for corruption, according to The Associated Press. This context suggests a growing trend of accountability for high-ranking officials in Brazil.