Trump declares Bolsonaro’s sentence disappointing

Trump calls Brazilian ex-president’s jail term unexpected, vows spark global debate

Washington/ Brasília: U.S. President Donald Trump was quick to respond to the sentencing of Brazil’s erstwhile president Jair Bolsonaro, describing the ruling as “disappointing” and “unexpected.

International media reports that Trump made his comments during a short encounter with journalists, stating the decision of the Brazilian Supreme Court was unexpected. “It’s very disappointing. I did not expect such a decision,” he commented, when questioned about the news.

On Wednesday, Brazil’s Supreme Court gave Bolsonaro a 27-year and three-month jail sentence after convicting him of conspiring to undermine democratic institutions in the wake of the nation’s 2022 presidential elections. A five-judge panel voted 3–2 in the conviction, holding the former president guilty of conspiring against democracy.

Bolsonaro, who has been on house arrest since proceedings started, was not present in court to hear the verdict. His attorneys, however, quickly announced that they would appeal the decision. Bolsonaro’s attorney confirmed that an appeal would be made and insisted that the case be heard by a full bench of 11 judges.

The verdict has spurred protests in a number of Brazilian cities with former president supporters condemning the judgment as political. The protesters displayed placards and chanted slogans near government offices, calling for Bolsonaro’s release forthwith. Security forces were mobilized in the capital cities to avoid violence from spreading.

The accusations against Bolsonaro are based on claims that he tried to invalidate the outcome of the 2022 election, in which he lost to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Prosecutors charged the former president with inciting his followers to invade government buildings and trying to sabotage Brazil’s electoral system.

The conviction is a milestone in Brazil’s history, as it is among the most severe punishments ever meted out to a former head of state in the nation. Legal observers indicate the appeal process could last for months, making the political fate of Bolsonaro and his allies uncertain.

Although no official statement has been made by the Biden administration, Trump’s statement is one of the first public high-profile reactions from a global leader. The president of the United States has frequently expressed sympathy with right-wing politicians across the globe and is bound to be closely watched both in Washington and Brasília.

As Bolsonaro’s legal fight becomes ongoing, Brazil is now confronted with fresh political tensions, with his supporters mobilizing against what they perceive to be a judicial overreach.