Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to begin serving a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup against his successor, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The court, led by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, finalized the verdict on November 25, instructing Bolsonaro to start his sentence at the Federal Police headquarters in Brasília, where he has been detained since Saturday. Bolsonaro was previously under house arrest for damaging his ankle monitor. The ruling marks a historic moment in Brazil, as it is the first time a former president has been convicted for attempting to overthrow a democratic government. Bolsonaro’s populist and divisive leadership from 2019 to 2022 left Brazil politically polarized. Following his defeat in the 2022 election, he was banned from holding public office. His legal team criticized the court for rushing the trial and vowed to appeal. The verdict has been hailed by many as a victory for Brazilian democracy.