The Brazilian Supreme Court, in a landmark verdict, has sentenced former president Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison for attempting to plot a coup against the elected government of Lula de Silva.
The verdict, which divided much of the country, was announced on Thursday, after one of the judges voted against the conviction, deeming the Supreme Court to be unfit to hear the proceedings. The sentence might see a 70-year-old far-right leader spend the rest of their life behind bars.
The judges voted 4-1 to convict Bolsonaro of plotting to overthrow Lula’s government and the removal of the Supreme Court judge Moraes. Prosecutors representing the government said the former president faced setbacks after the country’s top military denied support, fearing mass protests and internal destabilisation of the country.
Meanwhile, the counsel appearing for Bolsonaro said the sentence was too harsh and too excessive while hinting that he would appeal in the international court regarding the judgment. Washington was quick to respond to the conviction. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States "will respond accordingly" to what he called a politically motivated "witch hunt".
The Brazilian foreign ministry responded with fury, saying it would not be intimidated by Rubio’s threats.
"An armed criminal organisation was formed by the defendants, who must be convicted based on the factual circumstances I consider proven," said the fifth judge, Cristiano Zanin, Lula's former lawyer.
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Bolsonaro’s conviction came after one of the biggest and most decisive trials in Brazil’s history, which ended with a nail-biting vote that stretched over four days. He becomes the fourth former Brazilian president to be convicted since the return of democracy in 1985, after two decades of brutal military dictatorship.
Lula spent 19 months in prison in 2018-2019 on corruption charges that were later overturned. Meanwhile, Lula’s domestic image has witnessed a boost after the conviction of Bolsonaro.
This is the pivotal moment in the history of Brazilian politics, as the Latin American nation faces Trump’s hostile trade Tariffs while the nation seeks to rebuild its future with the East.
Also Read: Bolsonaro trial splits Brazil Supreme Court judges
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