A panel of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court (STF) voted unanimously on Friday, November 7, 2025, to reject the appeal filed by former President Jair Bolsonaro against his 27-year, three-month prison sentence. Bolsonaro was convicted in September for plotting a coup to remain in power after his 2022 electoral defeat, a verdict that included five crimes, such as attempting to violently abolish democracy and organizing a coup. The justices on the panel, including rapporteur Justice Alexandre de Moraes, dismissed all defense arguments, calling them “unfeasible” and stating there was sufficient evidence that Bolsonaro acted freely and knowingly to advance the coup plot.
The former president, who has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, has been under house arrest since August for violating precautionary measures in a separate case related to his alleged attempts to persuade US President Donald Trump to interfere in his trial. Bolsonaro’s lawyers had filed the appeal motion seeking a reduction in his sentence, arguing that the multiple charges for plotting and attempting the coup overlapped and led to unjust cumulative penalties. However, the unanimous rejection by the panel severely limits the remaining legal challenges available to his defense team.This decision marks a highly significant step in Brazil’s ongoing process of enforcing accountability for post-election manipulation efforts and affirming the durability of its democratic institutions. Bolsonaro will not begin serving his sentence immediately, as he is expected to request to remain under house arrest due to health concerns, and his legal team may attempt a final appeal to the full Supreme Court of 11 justices. Court sources indicate that all remaining appeals could be exhausted as early as this month.
