Global Courant
STORY: Five out of seven judges voted to convict 68-year-old Bolsonaro of abuse of power and abuse of the media for his actions in July 2022, ahead of the election, when he called on ambassadors to make baseless claims about Brazil’s electronic voting system .
Bolsonaro has denied his wrongdoing and his lawyers have promised to appeal to the Supreme Court. He said he would continue to work to advance right-wing politics in Brazil.
Their decision marks a stunning turnaround for Bolsonaro, a fiery populist who narrowly won October’s lost vote to leftist rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Many in Brazil blame Bolsonaro for mounting a nationwide movement to reverse the result, culminating in the January 8 invasion of government buildings in Brasilia by thousands of his supporters.
The impact of the electoral court ruling is likely to seep through Brazilian politics, taking Lula’s main foe out of contention in 2026 and opening up space in a competitive field on Brazil’s right.
As president, Jair Bolsonaro, an admirer of former US President Donald Trump, was internationally criticized for his lackluster management of the Amazon rainforest, his laissez-faire approach to COVID-19 restrictions, and his unproven attacks on Brazil’s electoral system.
Bolsonaro also continues to face multiple criminal investigations that could put him behind bars.
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