Bolsonaro's Legal Team Challenges Conviction
Lawyers for former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro officially filed an appeal on Monday, October 27, 2025, seeking to reduce his 27-year and three-month prison sentence. The appeal was submitted to Brazil's Supreme Court (Supreme Federal Court - STF), challenging the conviction for attempting a coup to remain in power after his 2022 electoral defeat.
The legal team, including lawyers Celso Vilardi and Paulo Amador da Cunha Bueno, argued that the Supreme Court's decision contained 'ambiguities, omissions, contradictions and obscurities.' They also cited alleged due process violations, including a lack of proper defense and reliance on what they termed 'flawed and contradictory plea bargain testimony,' alongside legal errors in the application of charges.
Details of the Conviction
Bolsonaro was convicted in September 2025 by a panel of Supreme Court justices, with the ruling officially published on October 22, 2025, initiating the appeals period. The trial, which took place between September 2 and 11, 2025, found Bolsonaro guilty of five distinct crimes. These charges included:
- Attempting a coup d'état
- Participating in an armed criminal organization
- Attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law
- Damage qualified by violence
- Deterioration of listed heritage
Prosecutors alleged that the plot involved plans to assassinate then President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The court also highlighted the January 8, 2023, riots, where Bolsonaro's supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília, as a key event in the attempted power grab.
Ongoing Legal Process and House Arrest
Since August 2025, Bolsonaro has been under house arrest. Under Brazilian law, he will not be incarcerated until all legal avenues for appeal have been exhausted. The Supreme Court judges do not have a specific deadline to review the arguments presented in the appeal.
During the original trial, one of the five Supreme Court judges, Luiz Fux, cast a dissenting vote, arguing that there was insufficient evidence to convict Bolsonaro and that the Supreme Court was not the appropriate venue for the trial.
11 Comments
paracelsus
Good. He deserves every year for trying to undermine democracy.
eliphas
While the charges are serious and democracy must be defended, concerns about due process and the STF's role do warrant careful review. The appeal process is crucial for legitimacy.
paracelsus
Holding powerful figures accountable is a cornerstone of democracy, yet the accusations of political motivation from his supporters are also part of the public discourse. The Supreme Court's handling of this appeal will set a significant precedent.
eliphas
The conviction itself sends a strong message against coup attempts, which is important for any democracy. However, the defense's claims of 'flawed testimony' can't simply be dismissed without a robust re-examination during the appeal.
paracelsus
It's vital that justice is done, but the length of the sentence and the specific charges being appealed raise questions that need to be transparently addressed. The court needs to ensure all legal avenues are thoroughly exhausted.
eliphas
Regardless of one's political stance, the legal complexities of this case are immense, especially with a dissenting judge. A fair and unbiased appeal is essential for the nation's faith in its institutions.
anubis
Democracy won, and now the consequences follow.
paracelsus
The STF is biased. This conviction won't stand.
anubis
About time accountability came for his actions.
eliphas
Justice is finally being served! No one is above the law.
anubis
This appeal is a waste of time. The evidence was clear.