Bolsonaro ordered to start serving 27-year prison sentence for Brazil coup plot

Bolsonaro Begins 27-Year Prison Sentence After Coup Plot Conviction

Former President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro has started serving a 27-year and three-month prison sentence after being convicted of orchestrating a coup attempt to overturn the results of the 2022 election.

The order to begin serving the sentence was issued by the Supreme Federal Court. The sentence became final after the court dismissed Bolsonaro’s last appeal. On November 25, 2025, the court directed that he be taken into custody at the headquarters of the Federal Police of Brazil in the capital, Brasília.

What He Was Convicted Of

In September 2025, the court found that Bolsonaro had led a coordinated plan to overturn the democratic results of the 2022 presidential election, in which he lost to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The charges included plotting a coup, participating in an armed criminal organization, trying to violently abolish Brazil’s democratic rule of law, aggravated damage to state property, and causing deterioration of constitutionally protected sites. Prosecutors also said the conspirators planned to assassinate key political and judicial figures, including the President-elect and top justices.

Four of the five justices in the court panel found him guilty. One justice dissented, arguing there was insufficient proof for some charges, but the majority ruling held.

Why the Sentence Began Now

Although the conviction was handed down in September, the sentence only began now because the court allowed time for final appeals. With those appeals exhausted and his request rejected, the court formally ordered initial incarceration. He was previously under house arrest.

The immediate trigger was a recent incident in which Bolsonaro allegedly tampered with his ankle monitor, a violation that the court interpreted as a serious flight risk. That prompted authorities to transfer him to preventive detention at the Federal Police facility.

At the detention center, he is lodged in a roughly 12-square-meter room. He has access to his lawyers and doctors under court authorization, but his movements and contact are under strict supervision.

Reaction and Wider Fallout

News of Bolsonaro’s incarceration has stirred strong reactions across Brazil. Supporters condemned the court’s decision as political persecution, accusing the judiciary of targeting a leader who still represents a sizable segment of the population. Outside the police headquarters, a small number of his loyalists protested and called for his release.

On the other hand, many Brazilians, particularly critics of his presidency, celebrated the verdict as a milestone for democracy and justice. For them, the conviction signals that even powerful figures are not above the law.

Several of Bolsonaro’s allies and high-ranking former officials, including military leaders, were also convicted in the same case. Their arrests and prison sentences were activated along with Bolsonaro’s.

What It Means for Brazil’s Democracy

Legal experts see the court’s ruling and incarceration order as a clear statement against anti-democratic actions. The verdict underscores that planning to overturn elections or violently suppress democratic transition will carry severe consequences.

While some remain concerned about political polarization and potential unrest among Bolsonaro’s supporters, many hope this sets a precedent: no one, not even a former president, is exempt from justice if they threaten the democratic order.