• Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and three months for his coup attempt after losing the 2022 election.
• This marks the first time a former Brazilian president has been convicted of attempting to overthrow a democratically elected government.
• The ruling drew immediate backlash from the U.S., with President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio criticizing the conviction.
• Bolsonaro's supporters have rallied in response, citing political persecution.
• Legal experts note that Bolsonaro's avenues for appeal are limited, but his legal team plans to challenge the decision.

Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro has been sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison after a Supreme Court panel found him guilty of plotting a coup to remain in power following his loss in the 2022 election to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. This unprecedented verdict makes Bolsonaro the first former president in Brazil to be convicted of attempting to overturn election results. The decision is based on evidence that included plans for violence and assassination against Lula and other officials, according to prosecutors and Justice Carmen Lúcia, who delivered a decisive vote in favor of the conviction, stating he acted to erode democratic institutions, according to BBC and Latin America Reports.

Following the ruling, Bolsonaro's supporters held vigils, labeling the conviction as political persecution. Flávio Bolsonaro, the former president's son, described the verdict as a "supreme persecution," indicating the division within Brazilian society in reaction to the verdict. The ruling has incited protests in major cities where opponents of Bolsonaro celebrated what they see as a necessary step to uphold democracy, according to AfricaNews and Le Monde.

The ruling prompted an immediate reaction from the United States, with President Donald Trump expressing his dismay, referring to the case as a "witch hunt" and suggesting that the United States might respond with further tariffs, which have already been set at 50% on Brazilian goods. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also slammed the ruling, stating, "The political persecutions continue...the United States will respond accordingly to this witch hunt," a comment that drew criticism from Brazil's Foreign Ministry for allegedly undermining Brazil's judicial integrity, according to Reuters and Los Angeles Times.

Despite the ruling, Bolsonaro remains under house arrest and plans to appeal the conviction, although legal analysts suggest that the challenges will face high hurdles due to the established majority ruling against him. His sentencing is seen not only as a historical moment for Brazil but also as a litmus test for democracy in the region, reflecting broader political dynamics and international relations, according to Al Jazeera and BBC.