Bolsonaro jailed 27 years but his influence endures
In September 2018, Jair Bolsonaro was campaigning in Juiz de Fora when a 40-year-old man pushed through a crowd and stabbed him in the stomach. Images of Bolsonaro doubled over in pain, wearing a Brazil football shirt, spread instantly across social media and television, shocking the country. The attack turned him into a symbol of resilience, boosted his outsider image, and helped propel him to victory weeks later. Seven years on, Brazil’s Supreme Court has found him guilty of plotting a coup and sentenced him to more than 27 years in prison. On paper, this verdict ends his political career. Yet Bolsonaro remains one of the most influential figures of recent decades, with allies already calling for amnesty, leaving open the possibility of a political comeback. Bolsonaro’s path to power was unusual. A former army captain, he left the military […]
