Brazil’s Bolsonaro sentenced to 27 years in prison

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🗞️ Driving the news: Brazil’s Supreme Court has sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years and three months in prison for his role in orchestrating a plot to overturn the 2022 presidential election
• In a 4-1 decision, the court found Bolsonaro guilty of attempting to subvert Brazil's democratic institutions and inciting actions that threatened the constitutional order

🔭 The context: Bolsonaro, a far-right leader who served as president from 2019 to 2022, has long challenged the legitimacy of Brazil’s electoral system
• After narrowly losing the 2022 election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Bolsonaro and his allies were accused of spreading misinformation and encouraging anti-democratic protests, including the storming of government buildings in January 2023
• This verdict follows growing efforts across Latin America to hold former leaders accountable for abuses of power

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Political instability in Brazil, one of the world’s largest democracies and a key steward of the Amazon rainforest, has broad implications for global environmental governance
• Bolsonaro’s term saw deforestation rise significantly, while Lula’s return promised renewed commitment to climate action
• The conviction may signal stronger institutional resilience, critical to sustaining Brazil’s environmental and democratic reforms

⏭️ What's next: Bolsonaro is expected to appeal the ruling, and the legal process may extend for months
• His sentencing could deepen political polarisation ahead of Brazil’s 2026 elections, but it also reaffirms judicial independence and accountability
• The decision may influence broader regional dynamics, where questions of democratic backsliding remain acute
• International observers will watch closely for potential civil unrest and the government's response

💬 One quote: “This verdict is a victory for democracy and the rule of law in Brazil,” said Justice Rosa Weber, one of the presiding justices on the case

📈 One stat: Under Bolsonaro’s administration, Amazon deforestation rose by 59.5% compared to the previous four-year period, according to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE)

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