247 - Ministers in President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's (Workers' Party) government defended the Supreme Court's prosecution of Jair Bolsonaro in the coup plot investigation and emphasized the importance of convicting the eight defendants, including the former president. Senior government officials also reaffirmed Brazilian sovereignty after the Donald Trump administration cited the prosecution of the far-right politician to impose sanctions on Brazil.

The Minister of Development and Social Assistance, Wellington Dias, said that the"Supreme Court was very careful in providing the opportunity for defense and, of course, in complying with the law." "Democracy, no matter who it hurts, whether it's the most ordinary person or a former president, must prevail. It's regrettable to see people putting themselves at the service of interests contrary to the country. Treason to the nation is unacceptable," said Dias, who participated in the 3rd National Meeting of the Francisco e Clara Economy, held in Recife, Pernambuco.

Márcio Macêdo, Chief Minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic, stated that the conviction was"a historic milestone in the defense of the Democratic Rule of Law." "Due process was respected, and the courts made it clear that no one is above the law," he said.

According to the minister,"the decision reaffirms respect for popular sovereignty, expressed at the polls in 2022, for the fairness of the Brazilian electoral system and strengthens national institutions by condemning the attempted coup d'état that threatened democracy and planned the assassination of the elected president and vice president and a Supreme Court justice."

"The outcome of the trial further demonstrates that Brazil will not accept any form of external threat to our institutions and our people. Our commitment is to the Constitution, democracy, justice, and the sovereignty of the Brazilian people."

According to the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Luciana Santos, “there was due process, the right to a defense and consistent evidence of an attempted coup d'état.”

The minister also recalled that, according to investigators, those involved in the coup plot intended to assassinate President Lula (PT), Vice President Geraldo Alckmin (PSB) and STF Minister Alexandre de Moraes, rapporteur of the investigation into the coup plan at the Court.

"It's unacceptable. Brazil has suffered from a history of coups and dictatorships, marked by torture and murder. We cannot normalize this past. We need to turn the page," Luciana declared.

Convictions and the US reaction

The STF convicted the eight defendants in the investigation - Jair Bolsonaro, the former head of the Institutional Security Office (GSI) Augusto Heleno, the deputy Alexandre Ramagem (PL-RJ), the former minister Paulo Sérgio Nogueira , the former commander Almir Garnier Santos , the lieutenant colonel Mauro Cid , the general Braga Netto and the former minister Anderson Torres.

U.S. President Donald Trump once again defended Bolsonaro after the Supreme Court's decision. The U.S. Embassy in Brazil called Moraes a"human rights violator."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also came to the former president's defense and took the opportunity to attack Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The judge is the rapporteur for the Supreme Court's investigation into the coup plot.

U.S. Democratic lawmakers released a letter warning that Trump is trying to destroy Brazilian democracy. In Brazil, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, led by Minister Mauro Vieira, responded to the Secretary of State.

The conviction of former President Jair Bolsonaro and seven other defendants by the Supreme Federal Court is a historic milestone in the defense of the Democratic Rule of Law. Due process was respected, and the courts made it clear that no one is above the law. The decision reaffirms the…— Marcio Macedo (@MarcioMacedoPT) September 11, 2025