Bolsonaro Sentenced with Military Figures; Urgent Calls to Remove Politics from Armed Forces

Former President Jair Bolsonaro and key military figures involved in the January 8 coup attempt in Brazil have been sentenced to serve time in the Federal District and Rio de Janeiro jurisdictions, marking a critical juncture in the country’s recent political turmoil. Bolsonaro’s sentence makes him ineligible to run for elections until 2060, a development that could significantly diminish his political influence ahead of the 2026 elections. His family and legal team have criticized the decision by Minister Alexandre de Moraes and plan to file appeals. However, Bolsonaro will remain at the Federal Police superintendency rather than being transferred to a more restrictive prison, easing private concerns amid fears he might spend the holiday season in custody.

Alongside these legal consequences, Defense Minister José Múcio has called for urgent measures to separate military personnel from political office. He advocates for implementing a constitutional amendment known as the "PEC dos Militares," aimed at preventing active military members from running for office and enforcing a "quarantine" period after military service before engaging in politics. Múcio criticizes the current practice where military members campaign and then return to their barracks as a contamination of political discourse.

The proposed amendment, which has passed the Senate Constitution and Justice Commission, has stalled due to conflicting amendments and a lack of consensus among lawmakers. The government has been cautious about pursuing these discussions further to avoid political confrontation with the military. Múcio described the arrests as the "end of a cycle," underscoring the need to depoliticize the armed forces, but no new initiatives on military candidacies are currently planned.

Bolsonaro’s sentencing and the arrests of military leaders connected to the coup attempt together symbolize a closing chapter in Brazil’s unprecedented political crisis. While Bolsonaro’s family pushes for him to remain politically active, the Centrão coalition is pressing for alternative candidates, such as Tarcísio Gomes de Freitas, framing a complex landscape ahead of the next presidential election.