Four out of five justices on the panel found the far-right leader guilty on five charges, a decision that may exacerbate political tensions and is anticipated to provoke a response from the US government.

Trial has divided Brazilians

The proceedings have captivated a divided public, with some supporting the legal actions against the former president, while others remain loyal. These supporters have taken to the streets to support the far-right figure, who claims political persecution.

Observers say the US might announce new sanctions against Brazil after the trial, further straining their fragile diplomatic relations.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes, presiding over the case, stated Tuesday that Bolsonaro orchestrated a coup attempt and headed a criminal organization, and voted for his conviction.

Lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro, one of the ex-president’s sons, addressed his father’s situation on social media Thursday. Avoiding direct mention of the conviction, he instead pursued amnesty efforts through Congress.

“It is time to do nothing less than what is correct, just,” he said.

Thomas Traumann, a political consultant and former government minister in Rio de Janeiro, commented that it represented “the most significant day for Brazilian democracy since the 1988 constitution was enacted”.

“It marks the first occasion where a former president, former defense minister, and former military commander face consequences for attempting to obstruct an elected government from assuming office,” Traumann remarked.

“The threats of the American government make this decision of the Supreme Court an even braver one. The relations between the two countries will get worse and maybe get better once the Trump administration understands there are limits to the will it wants to impose,” he added.

Bolsonaro remains a political force

Justice Luis Fux, in his dissenting opinion on Wednesday, disagreed with de Moraes and the other two justices, casting the lone acquittal vote.

“No one can be punished for cogitation,” Fux said. “A coup d’état does not result from isolated acts or individual demonstrations lacking coordination, but rather from the actions of organised groups, equipped with resources and strategic capacity to confront and replace the incumbent power.”

Bolsonaro faced accusations he attempted to illegally hang onto power after his 2022 electoral defeat to current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Prosecutors charged Bolsonaro with counts including attempting to stage a coup, being part of an armed criminal organisation, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, as well as being implicated in violence and posing a serious threat to the state’s assets and listed heritage.

“Bolsonaro attempted a coup in this country, and there is hundreds of pieces of evidence,” Lula said early Thursday in an interview with local TV Band, ahead of the trial.

Bolsonaro already barred from running for office

Despite his legal woes, Bolsonaro remains a powerful political player in Brazil.

The far-right politician had been previously banned from running for office until 2030 in a separate case. He is expected to choose an heir who is likely to challenge Lula next year.

The ruling may push Bolsonaro’s allied lawmakers to seek some amnesty for him through Congress.

“I had the honour to serve as Jair Messias Bolsonaro’s chief of staff. I have never seen any act from him that wasn’t out of love for Brazil and absolute honesty. Bolsonaro is the greatest popular right-wing leader in the country’s history,” Sen. Ciro Nogueira said on X.

Lindbergh Farias, the Workers’ Party leader in the lower house, told journalists outside the court that the trial “should bury the discussion about amnesty in Congress.”

“This is for everyone who fought the military dictatorship years ago. Our democracy is strong now,” Farias said.

After the court panel debates on Bolsonaro’s sentence, the embattled former leader could face increased pressure to pick a political heir to likely challenge Lula in the general elections next year.

“There is a God in heaven who sees everything, who loves justice and hates iniquity,” former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro wrote on social media.