Jair Bolsonaro was convicted of attempting a coup after losing the previous presidential election to Lula da Silva.
Posted by The Headlines, Checked
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The HeadlinesOct 26, 2026
Multiple reliable sources (AP, NPR, PBS) report that Brazil's Supreme Court convicted former president Jair Bolsonaro of attempting a coup to stay in office after losing the 2022 election to Lula da Silva, and Britannica confirms the 2025 conviction and 2022 loss.
What was said
… right-wing presidential candidates have come to power there, including in Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, and Costa Rica, but Lula narrowly held on to the presidency in Brazil, something few pollsters predicted. He won out over Flavio Bolsonaro, whose father, Jair Bolsonaro, a Trump ally, was convicted of attempting a coup after losing to Lula himself in the last election. Simulação dessas eleições. This time, the son, Flavio Bolsonaro, has also refused to recognize Lula's victory, saying the rules changed, quote, "in the middle of the game," after a judge ordered polls to remain open for an additional two hours yesterday. …
The Headlines · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. AP reports Bolsonaro was convicted of attempting a coup to stay in office after losing his 2022 reelection bid, sentenced to 27 years and three months.[1][2]
Supports. NPR reports the Supreme Court sentenced Bolsonaro for attempting a coup to stay in power after losing the 2022 election.[3]
Supports. Britannica states that in September 2025 Brazil's Supreme Court convicted Bolsonaro on coup-related charges for seeking to hold onto power after his 2022 loss to Lula.[4]
Context. AP notes Bolsonaro has always denied wrongdoing and his lawyers said they would appeal; the conviction is therefore not final in the sense of having exhausted appeals.[1][5]
Sources
5 sources: 1 fact-checker, 2 tier 2, 2 not rated
- 1What to know about Bolsonaro and his sentencing for Brazil ...apnews.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports, context
- 2What to know after Brazil's Bolsonaro is convicted and ...pbs.org · tier 2 · cited for: supports
- 3Bolsonaro found guilty of coup plotnpr.org · tier 2 · cited for: supports
- 4Jair Bolsonaro | Election, Trial, Conviction, Party, Religion ...britannica.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 5Brazil: Bolsonaro sentenced to 27 years for attempted coupdw.com · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
Related claims
- Jair Bolsonaro is in prison for a coup launched after he lost the 2022 election.True
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