Bolsonaro to Prison: A Coup Conviction, U.S. Silence
Brazil's Supreme Court has finally ordered Jair Bolsonaro to begin his 27-year prison sentence for trying to foment a coup after his election loss, as reported by Al Jazeera. This decisive action by a sovereign nation's judiciary stands in stark contrast to the deferential treatment often afforded to similar figures elsewhere. One might wonder if the U.S. State Department had less 'strategic
interest' in the outcome in BrasÃlia than in, say, Kiev or Tel Aviv. While the wheels of justice turn seemingly unimpeded in Brazil, the optics are stark. We applaud Brazil’s commitment to democratic process, but can't help but notice the quiet from certain U.S. political figures who happily embraced Bolsonaro's 'strongman' rhetoric. Perhaps coup attempts are only unacceptable when they happen
outside the Western Hemisphere, or when the perpetrator doesn't serve a particular geopolitical agenda.