The former president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, has been convicted of plotting a military coup. Three out of five Supreme Court justices found the 70-year-old guilty of leading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. While the plot failed to enlist enough support from the military to go ahead, it culminated in the storming of government buildings by Bolsonaro's supporters on January 8, 2023, according to the justices. One justice acquitted Bolsonaro and a final one has yet to vote, but the simple majority is sufficient for his conviction, which could lead to decades in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Friday.
Jair Bolsonaro Convicted of Coup Conspiracy in Brazil
Jair Bolsonaro Convicted of Coup Conspiracy in Brazil
Brazil's former president, Jair Bolsonaro, has been found guilty of plotting a coup to regain power after losing the 2022 election. The Supreme Court's ruling could lead to a lengthy prison sentence.
In a landmark decision, Jair Bolsonaro has been convicted by three of five Supreme Court justices for his involvement in a conspiracy to overturn the 2022 election results. Although the coup plot failed to gain military support, it resulted in violent protests on January 8, 2023. Bolsonaro faces the possibility of decades in prison.
