Official publication of the document will take place this Tuesday (18) in the Electronic Justice Gazette (DJe), marking the beginning of the deadlines for new appeal attempts
On Monday night (17), the decision was released that rejected the former president’s (PL) first appeals against his conviction to 27 years and 3 months in prison for leading a coup plot after the defeat in the 2022 elections. The official publication of the document will take place this Tuesday (18) in the Electronic Justice Gazette (DJe), marking the beginning of the deadlines for new appeal attempts.
The ruling details the decision of the First Panel of the STF, composed of ministers Alexandre de Moraes, Cristiano Zanin, Flávio Dino and Cármen Lúcia, who rejected the embargoes for a declaration presented by Bolsonaro’s defense. These appeals requested clarifications or challenged any omissions in the collegial decision. Now, the former president’s defense may present new motions for clarification or infringement motions, which seek to modify the content of the conviction.
Bolsonaro remains under house arrest, but his future remains undefined until all resources are analyzed. Minister Alexandre de Moraes, rapporteur of the case, will be responsible for determining the next step, which could include the arrest of the former president after resources have been exhausted. If the defenses try to delay the execution of the sentence, Moraes may order immediate arrest.
The expectation is that the process will be concluded in December, with the start of serving the sentences scheduled for 2025. The place where Bolsonaro will serve his sentence in a closed regime is still uncertain, with considerations about his remaining under house arrest, transfer to a special wing in the Papuda penitentiary, in the Federal District, or to a Federal Police unit in Brasília.
In addition to Bolsonaro, other defendants also had their appeals rejected. The former Minister of the Civil House, Walter Braga Netto, the former Minister of Defense, Paulo Sérgio Nogueira, the former head of the Navy, Almir Garnier Santos, the former director of Abin, Alexandre Ramagem, the former minister of the GSI, Augusto Heleno, and the former Minister of Justice, Anderson Torres, were unable to reverse their convictions.
The only defendant who did not appeal was Lieutenant Colonel Mauro Cid, Bolsonaro’s former aide-de-camp, who, as part of a plea bargain agreement, will not serve a prison sentence. Cid was sentenced to two years of open prison for his participation in the coup.
The sentencing judgment had Minister Alexandre de Moraes as rapporteur, whose vote was followed by ministers Flávio Dino, Cristiano Zanin and Cármen Lúcia. The only one to vote for Bolsonaro’s acquittal was minister Luiz Fux, who, in turn, left the First Panel before analyzing the appeals.
With the ruling published, the process moves into the final stages, and the possibility of Bolsonaro’s arrest approaches, although the former president still has the opportunity to appeal to try to reverse the STF’s decision.
