SÃO PAULO (AP) — A panel of judges unanimously voted on Friday to declare former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro ineligible to run for office again. The decision came after the judges concluded that Bolsonaro had abused his power and spread baseless doubts about the country’s electronic voting system.
Once the voting of all judges is concluded, the decision will prevent Bolsonaro from running until 2030. This dramatic turn of events effectively ends Bolsonaro’s political future and greatly diminishes his chances of regaining power.
Four out of the seven judges on Brazil’s highest electoral court agreed that Bolsonaro had abused his authority. They found evidence that he had used government communication channels to promote his campaign and had intentionally created doubt about the integrity of the voting process.
Carlos Melo, a political science professor at Insper University in Sao Paulo, commented on the decision: “This verdict effectively ends Bolsonaro’s chances of becoming president again, and he is fully aware of it. From here on, he will likely focus on avoiding jail time and supporting his allies to maintain his political standing. However, it is highly unlikely that he will ever return to the presidency.”
The case revolved around a meeting on July 18, 2022, where Bolsonaro utilized government resources and personnel to falsely claim that the country’s electronic voting system was rigged.
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“Bolsonaro clearly abused his powers by convening this meeting, using government resources, and intertwining the interests of the country with his political campaign,” stated Márlon Reis, an electoral law expert who contributed to the ineligibility provisions.
Bolsonaro has the option to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. Additionally, he is currently facing other legal troubles, including ongoing criminal investigations.
When questioned by reporters in Brasilia on Thursday, Bolsonaro maintained a defiant stance. He lamented, “This is an injustice committed against me! Show me concrete evidence of my actions against democracy. Perhaps my crime was simply doing the right thing for four years.”
In a recent interview, Bolsonaro acknowledged that his chances of success were slim. The court’s ruling not only bars him from the 2024 and 2028 municipal elections but also disqualifies him from the 2026 general elections. Furthermore, potential future criminal convictions could extend his prohibition from holding office for several more years and potentially even lead to imprisonment.
Former President Fernando Collor de Mello and current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva were previously declared ineligible, but their cases were due to criminal offenses rather than election violations. Brazilian law prohibits candidates with criminal convictions from running for office.
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Prior to the court’s vote, lawmaker Carlos Jordy, a staunch Bolsonaro ally, expressed hope for a “drastic change” from the court’s decision. However, he also acknowledged the possibility of a future without Bolsonaro as the standard-bearer of right-wing Brazilian politics.
Jordy stated in a phone interview, “Even if they commit this unprecedented injustice at the electoral court, Bolsonaro will remain Brazil’s most influential political figure.” He believes Bolsonaro’s influence will endure, despite the ruling.
Bolsonaro currently holds a ceremonial leadership role within his Liberal Party and has been actively criticizing President Lula, who won last year’s election by the narrowest margin in over three decades.
The trial has reignited Bolsonaro’s online support base, with his followers claiming he is a victim of an unfair judicial system and drawing comparisons to former U.S. President Donald Trump. However, the level of engagement on social media falls short of the intensity seen during the previous election.
This week, Bolsonaro’s supporters demonstrated their unwavering loyalty by contributing to help him pay the 1.1 million reais (approximately $230,000) in fines imposed by the government of Sao Paulo state for repeatedly violating health protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While Bolsonaro may still serve as a kingmaker within the right-wing political landscape, his decision to spend several months in Florida at the beginning of Lula’s term has weakened his position. His absence is reflected in the limited outrage expressed by right-wing supporters on social media throughout the eligibility trial, and there have been no signs of mass protests.