Bolsonaro Coup Trial, Day 4 of 5: Supreme Court Majority Secures Conviction

The fourth day of Jair Bolsonaro’s Supreme Court trial brought a decisive turn. By Wednesday evening, four justices had voted to convict the former president and his seven allies for plotting to overturn the 2022 election, assuring a guilty verdict before the trial’s conclusion.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the rapporteur of the case, opened the session with a lengthy vote to convict on all charges, including coup plotting, criminal association, and violent attack on democratic order.

He described the scheme as an “unprecedented assault” on Brazil’s democracy, warning that past cycles of impunity for coups must not be repeated. Moraes proposed severe sentences that could exceed 30 years in prison for Bolsonaro.

Justice Flávio Dino concurred, comparing the alleged coup attempt to Brazil’s 1964 military takeover. “A coup kills,” Dino said, noting that while no lives were lost on January 8, 2023, attempts to subvert democracy endanger freedoms and society itself.

He endorsed firm penalties for all defendants. Justice Luiz Fux cast the pivotal third vote to convict, cementing the majority.

While agreeing on guilt, Fux indicated he would favor somewhat lighter penalties than Moraes, questioning whether every act linked to Bolsonaro — such as his 2022 meeting with foreign ambassadors — directly tied to the January 8 violence.

Still, his conviction vote guaranteed Bolsonaro’s fate. Justice Cármen Lúcia also indicated agreement, bringing the tally to 4–0, with only Justice Cristiano Zanin left to vote on the final day.

Bolsonaro Faces Likely Conviction as Final Vote Nears

Bolsonaro’s lawyers repeated that “there is not a single proof” connecting him to a coup, attacking the credibility of former aide Mauro Cid’s plea testimony and denouncing what they called procedural unfairness.

They argued the defense had been overwhelmed with evidence files and again accused Moraes of bias. The Court rejected motions to pause or annul the process.

Media coverage split along ideological lines. Mainstream outlets like Folha de S.Paulo and O Globo emphasized the historic nature of a majority conviction and highlighted Moraes’s warning that “impunity is not an option.”

Conservative outlets such as Jovem Pan and Gazeta do Povo focused on defense claims of “no evidence” and procedural abuse, portraying the trial as politically driven.

The trial’s fifth and final session is set for Friday, September 12, when Justice Zanin will cast the last vote and the Court will announce prison sentences. Analysts expect Bolsonaro to face a sentence of 20–30 years.

While he is unlikely to be jailed immediately due to appeals and his current house arrest, the conviction will mark the first time a former Brazilian president is formally found guilty of plotting against the democratic order.