Brazil's political landscape continues to be shaped by the legal repercussions facing former President Jair Bolsonaro. The Supreme Court has mandated that Bolsonaro, aged 70, commence his 27-year and three-month prison sentence. This ruling comes after he was found guilty of orchestrating a coup plot following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election.
Final Judgment and Detention
Justice Alexandre de Moraes delivered the definitive ruling on Tuesday, stating that the case has reached its final judgment, thereby precluding any further appeals. Bolsonaro's conviction stems from his leadership in a conspiracy designed to retain power after he lost the election to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Having been deemed a flight risk, Bolsonaro was transferred from home detention and has been held in a federal police jail cell in the capital, Brasilia, since Saturday. He is now set to begin serving his lengthy sentence in this facility.
Ankle Monitor Incident and Health Concerns
During a recent hearing, court documents reveal Bolsonaro admitted to attempting to tamper with his ankle monitor using a soldering iron, claiming he "came to his senses." He attributed the damage to medicine-induced "paranoia," insisting he had no intention of fleeing.
In light of these developments and previous concerns regarding Bolsonaro's health, Justice Moraes has ordered that the former president receive full-time medical care. His medical team had previously reported a worsening of his health condition.
The Failed Conspiracy and January 8th Uprising
The Supreme Court justices had previously established in September, during Bolsonaro's initial conviction for the coup plot, that he was aware of detailed plans to assassinate his rival Lula and vice-presidential running mate Geraldo Alckmin, alongside the arrest and execution of Justice Moraes, who presided over the trial.
Crucially, the elaborate conspiracy failed to secure the necessary backing from Brazil's army and air force commanders, allowing Lula to be sworn into office without incident on January 1, 2023. However, just one week later, on January 8, thousands of Bolsonaro's supporters stormed key government buildings in Brasilia. Security forces intervened, leading to approximately 1,500 arrests. The justices concluded that Bolsonaro had incited these rioters, with their actions intended to compel military intervention and restore him to power.
Beyond his prison sentence, Bolsonaro faces a significant political ban, preventing him from holding public office until 2060, a full eight years after his sentence concludes. The former president has vehemently denounced the trial as a "witch hunt," asserting it is a deliberate effort to disqualify him from participating in the 2026 presidential election.