Brazil’s political landscape has been rocked by a historic and unprecedented development: on October 22, 2025, the Supreme Federal Court published its formal ruling convicting former President Jair Bolsonaro of attempting a coup d’état. This publication not only cements the verdict but also triggers the official deadline for Bolsonaro and his legal team to submit appeals, marking a legal milestone that has sent ripples through the country’s institutions, its international relations, and the broader global community.
Bolsonaro, who lost the fiercely contested 2022 presidential election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, was convicted in September 2025 by a panel of judges for orchestrating a plot to overthrow Brazil’s democratic order. According to the Associated Press, the charges against Bolsonaro were grave: he was found guilty not only of attempting a coup but also of participating in an armed criminal organization and attempting the violent abolition of the democratic rule of law. The court handed down a sentence of 27 years and three months in prison, a decision that reverberated across the nation and the world.
For the first time in Brazil’s modern history, a former president faces such a severe conviction for crimes against the state. The Folha de S.Paulo highlighted the unprecedented nature of the ruling, noting that never before has a former head of state been convicted on such charges. The trial itself was dramatic, with the First Panel of the Supreme Court voting 4 to 1 in favor of conviction. The lone dissenting minister, as reported by Folha de S.Paulo, requested a grammatical revision of his vote, which delayed the final compilation of the court’s documentation. With the publication of the ruling, the legal process now enters a new phase as Bolsonaro’s defense prepares to challenge the verdict before the full 11-member Supreme Court.
Bolsonaro has been under house arrest since August 2025, a precautionary measure as the legal proceedings unfolded. Should his appeals fail, he faces the prospect of serving his sentence in a closed prison regime—a stark fall from grace for the far-right leader who once commanded Brazil’s highest office. Despite the mounting evidence and the severity of the charges, Bolsonaro has consistently denied any wrongdoing. His lawyers have publicly stated their intention to pursue all available avenues of appeal, although, as Associated Press notes, legal experts remain skeptical about their chances of overturning the conviction.
The allegations at the heart of the case are nothing short of explosive. Prosecutors accused Bolsonaro of masterminding a plot that included plans to assassinate President Lula, who defeated him at the ballot box in 2022. The court found that Bolsonaro’s actions were not isolated but part of a broader conspiracy involving several former officials, all of whom have now been sentenced for their roles in the attempted coup. This network of co-conspirators underscores the gravity and scope of the threat posed to Brazil’s democracy during the turbulent post-election period.
The trial and its aftermath have not only dominated headlines in Brazil but have also attracted intense international scrutiny. The United States, in particular, responded forcefully to the developments. In a move that stunned many observers, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on Brazilian imported goods, explicitly citing Bolsonaro’s case as a “witch hunt.” This dramatic escalation, as reported by Associated Press, led to what experts described as the lowest point in U.S.-Brazil relations in more than two centuries. The diplomatic chill underscored how deeply the Bolsonaro affair had penetrated international affairs, prompting concern about the stability of one of the world’s largest democracies.
Yet, in the weeks following the verdict, there have been signs of thawing relations. President Lula and President Trump reportedly spoke by phone, and there is speculation—reported by both Associated Press and Folha de S.Paulo—that the two leaders may meet in person at the ASEAN summit in Malaysia on the weekend of October 25-26, 2025. Such a meeting could signal a renewed effort to repair diplomatic ties and move beyond the acrimony triggered by Bolsonaro’s conviction and the subsequent U.S. response.
The legal process in Brazil is now entering a critical stage. With the Supreme Federal Court’s publication of its decision, the clock is ticking for Bolsonaro and his seven convicted allies to submit their appeals. The formalization of the ruling, as detailed by Folha de S.Paulo, means that the defense teams must act swiftly if they hope to alter the outcome. Should the appeals be rejected—and many legal analysts believe this is the likely scenario—Bolsonaro and his co-conspirators will face lengthy prison sentences, potentially serving as a powerful deterrent against future attacks on Brazil’s democratic system.
For many Brazilians, the verdict represents a turning point. The conviction of a former president for attempting to subvert democracy is a stark reminder of the fragility of political institutions—even in a country with a long tradition of electoral politics. At the same time, the robust response of the judiciary has been seen by some as a testament to the resilience of Brazil’s democratic order. The transparency of the trial, the publication of the full ruling, and the opportunity for appeals all underscore the rule of law at work, even in the face of extraordinary political upheaval.
Of course, the story is far from over. Bolsonaro’s supporters continue to insist on his innocence, framing the trial as politically motivated and the sentence as excessively harsh. Critics of the former president, on the other hand, argue that the conviction is a necessary step to safeguard democracy and hold powerful figures accountable for their actions. The debate has spilled over into the streets, with demonstrations both for and against Bolsonaro erupting in major cities across Brazil.
As the appeals process unfolds, all eyes will remain on Brazil’s Supreme Court. The outcome will have profound implications—not only for Bolsonaro and his allies but also for the country’s political future and its standing on the world stage. With the publication of the ruling on October 22, 2025, Brazil has entered uncharted territory, and the coming weeks will determine how this unprecedented chapter in the nation’s history ultimately concludes.
For now, the world is watching as Brazil’s democracy is tested—and as its institutions respond with a determination that will shape the nation for years to come.
