Lawyers for Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro have launched a fresh legal bid to overturn his conviction for plotting a coup, thrusting the country’s political divisions back into the spotlight. On November 28, 2025, Bolsonaro’s legal team filed an appeal demanding the annulment of his 27-year prison sentence and his full acquittal, according to documents reviewed by AFP and CTV News. The move comes just days after Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered the ex-leader to begin serving his term, marking a dramatic chapter in the nation’s recent political history.
The appeal, submitted to the full 11-member Federal Supreme Court, challenges the legitimacy of the original trial, which was conducted by a five-member section of the court. Bolsonaro’s lawyers argue that the existence of a single dissenting vote in the 4-1 decision is grounds to question the fairness of the conviction. As stated in their petition, "The unfair conviction imposed on Jair Messias Bolsonaro must be submitted for the scrutiny of the Full Chamber of the Federal Supreme Court so that, in the end, his innocence is recognized and declared."
This legal maneuver follows an earlier appeal that was swiftly dismissed by the same court section. The Supreme Court’s smaller panel, which convicted Bolsonaro, had already ruled that all standard avenues for appeal had been exhausted. Now, Bolsonaro’s team is hoping the full bench will see things differently, though legal experts remain skeptical about the chances of a successful reversal.
Bolsonaro, a 70-year-old former army captain who served as president from 2019 to 2022, was convicted in September 2025. The charges stemmed from a plot to prevent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the long-serving leftist politician, from taking office after winning the 2022 presidential elections. Prosecutors detailed a conspiracy that even included a plan to kill Lula, but said the scheme ultimately failed due to a lack of support from military leaders. According to AFP, the conviction was the culmination of months of investigation and political tension, with the court’s decision reflecting the high stakes involved.
The Supreme Court’s order for Bolsonaro to begin serving his prison sentence was handed down on November 25, 2025. Just two days earlier, on November 23, Bolsonaro was detained at police headquarters in Brasilia after authorities discovered he had tampered with his ankle monitor using a soldering iron. Until that point, he had been under house arrest. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has played a prominent role in the proceedings, suggested there were signs Bolsonaro was planning to flee. The timing of the tampering coincided with a vigil organized by Bolsonaro’s son outside his home, and the proximity of the U.S. embassy raised suspicions that the ex-president might seek asylum abroad. As de Moraes noted, Bolsonaro’s close relationship with former U.S. President Donald Trump added to these concerns.
For now, Bolsonaro remains detained at the police headquarters in Brasilia. His living conditions, by all accounts, are somewhat comfortable—he has access to a television, a mini-fridge, and air-conditioning. Nevertheless, his lawyers are pressing for a return to home confinement, citing ongoing health issues related to a stabbing attack he suffered in 2018. The defense argues that the stress and conditions of imprisonment could further endanger his well-being.
Bolsonaro has continued to maintain his innocence, insisting that he is the target of political persecution. His supporters echo this view, with some drawing parallels to the legal troubles faced by right-wing figures in other countries. Notably, former U.S. President Donald Trump has weighed in on the case, denouncing it as a "witch hunt" and imposing sanctions and punitive tariffs on Brazil as a show of solidarity with his ally. While many of these tariffs have since been rolled back, the episode underscores the international attention Bolsonaro’s fate has attracted.
The conviction and imprisonment of such a polarizing figure have left Brazil’s conservative electorate in disarray. With Bolsonaro sidelined, the political right is without a clear standard-bearer heading into the 2026 presidential elections. Meanwhile, Lula, now 80, has announced his intention to seek a fourth term, setting the stage for another contentious political battle. As CTV News points out, the absence of Bolsonaro from the political arena could reshape the landscape, leaving millions of conservative voters searching for new leadership.
The legal arguments at the heart of Bolsonaro’s appeal focus on both procedural and substantive issues. His attorneys contend that the initial trial’s composition—a five-member section rather than the full court—deprived him of a fair hearing. They also highlight the lone dissenting vote as evidence that the case against Bolsonaro was not as clear-cut as the majority decision suggests. However, the Supreme Court’s previous rejection of similar arguments suggests the path ahead will be steep. According to AFP, the court has made it clear that standard challenges have been exhausted, raising questions about whether the new appeal will even be considered.
Beyond the courtroom drama, the case has reignited fierce debates over the rule of law, accountability, and political polarization in Brazil. Bolsonaro’s tenure as president was marked by sharp rhetoric, controversial policies, and a combative relationship with the judiciary and media. His conviction for coup-plotting is viewed by many as a necessary step to uphold democratic norms, but his supporters see it as the culmination of a campaign to silence dissent and marginalize the political right.
The details of the alleged coup plot are especially chilling. Prosecutors allege that Bolsonaro and his associates orchestrated a plan to prevent the peaceful transfer of power after the 2022 elections, with the most extreme element being a plot to assassinate Lula. While the scheme ultimately failed, largely due to the refusal of military leaders to participate, the revelations have cast a long shadow over Brazilian politics. As AFP and CTV News both report, the court’s decision reflects the gravity of these accusations and the imperative to safeguard democratic institutions.
As the legal process unfolds, attention now turns to the Supreme Court’s next moves. Will the full 11-member panel agree to review Bolsonaro’s conviction, or will the previous rulings stand? Legal analysts are divided, but most agree that the case will have far-reaching implications for Brazil’s political future. For Bolsonaro, the stakes could not be higher—his personal freedom, legacy, and role in shaping Brazil’s political right all hang in the balance.
With the 2026 elections on the horizon, the outcome of Bolsonaro’s appeal will be closely watched by supporters and critics alike. The country’s political divisions remain as deep as ever, and the resolution of this case may well set the tone for Brazil’s democratic trajectory in the years to come.
