Historic Conviction of Jair Bolsonaro by Brazilian Supreme Court
In a historic ruling on September 11, 2025, Justice Carmen Lúcia cast her vote in favor of convicting former President Jair Bolsonaro, marking a significant moment for Brazil’s judicial system. The Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) is on the verge of announcing a major verdict that could lead to Bolsonaro facing up to 40 years in prison, reports 24brussels.
A majority of the Brazilian populace holds the belief that Bolsonaro will be found guilty of attempted coup, as analysts note the broad implications of the case for Brazil’s political landscape.
Justice Lúcia’s vote is the third in support of the conviction, achieving the simple majority required among the five-member court to resolve the ongoing legal dispute regarding Bolsonaro’s alleged actions following the 2022 election.
Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro was convicted by a Supreme Court majority of plotting a coup to remain in power after losing the 2022 election, a powerful blow to the populist far-right movement he created https://t.co/KpUaPFw4uP
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 11, 2025
The final vote from Justice Cristiano Zanin is still pending, but Lúcia’s decision represents a critical juncture in the fight against authoritarian practices in Brazil. The ruling indicates that Bolsonaro is guilty of attempting to overturn democratic governance and leading a criminal organization to maintain power after his electoral defeat.
Justice Carmen Lúcia Antunes Rocha, only the second woman to serve on Brazil’s Supreme Court, initiated her vote with strong denunciations of the “coup practices” employed by Bolsonaro’s supporters since 2021. That year marked the restoration of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s political rights, which ignited a series of unlawful actions orchestrated from the presidential palace, particularly as Bolsonaro anticipated his electoral loss in 2022.
A Founding Vote for Brazilian Democracy
Lúcia’s detailed and substantiated opinion challenges the dissenting view expressed by Justice Luiz Fux, who recently advocated for Bolsonaro’s full acquittal, arguing for a strict application of legal principles. Nevertheless, Lúcia aligned with rapporteur Alexandre de Moraes and Justice Flávio Dino, illustrating a narrative that suggests a clear commission of crimes including the abolition of democratic norms and coup d’état.
Her remarks not only address the violent incidents of January 8, 2023, but also establish a pattern of anti-democratic rhetoric, secret meetings with military leaders, and efforts to manipulate electoral processes.
With Lúcia’s vote, the judicial balance has shifted decisively toward a conviction. A majority of three votes—Moraes, Dino, and Lúcia—against one (Fux) renders it virtually impossible for Bolsonaro to evade conviction, regardless of Zanin’s upcoming decision.
