By jailing Bolsonaro, Brazil gave 'world a lesson in democracy': Lula

BRASÍLIA - President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Wednesday that Brazil had given the world a lesson in democracy after his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro was jailed for a failed coup attempt.

Bolsonaro, 70, began serving a 27-year prison sentence on Tuesday after his conviction over a scheme to stop Lula from taking office after 2022 elections.

His dramatic trial drew the attention of US President Donald Trump, who slammed a "witch hunt" of his ally and imposed sanctions and punitive tariffs on Brazil. Many of the tariffs have since been rolled back.

"Yesterday, this country gave the world a lesson in democracy. Without any fanfare, the Brazilian justice system showed its strength, it was not intimidated by external threats," Lula said.

"For the first time in 500 years of this country's history, you have someone imprisoned for an attempted coup," in a country which has had several coup attempts and lived under a military dictatorship between 1964 and 1985, he said in a speech.

"You have a former president and you have four four-star generals imprisoned, proving that democracy applies to everyone."

Bolsonaro was convicted in September of leading a criminal organization that conspired to ensure his "authoritarian hold on power."

The plot allegedly involved a plan to assassinate Lula, his vice president Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes.

Prosecutors said the scheme failed only due to a lack of support from military top brass.