Jair Bolsonaro

Jair Messias Bolsonaro is a Brazilian politician and former military officer who served as the 38th president of Brazil from 2019 to 2023.

Jair Messias Bolsonaro is a Brazilian politician and former military officer who served as the 38th president of Brazil from 2019 to 2023. He later faced major legal investigations and was convicted by Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court in 2025 for plotting a coup after his election loss.

Early life and political career

Jair Bolsonaro was born in 1955 in Glicério, Brazil, and later served as a military officer before entering politics. He spent nearly three decades in Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies before winning the presidency in 2018.

Presidency

Bolsonaro served as the 38th president of Brazil from 2019 to 2023. He won the 2018 election and was known internationally as a right-wing nationalist and populist figure. During the 2018 campaign, he was stabbed and underwent emergency surgery.

Legal troubles after leaving office

After losing the 2022 election, Bolsonaro became the subject of investigations tied to alleged efforts to overturn the result. Search results report that he was indicted, placed under house arrest in August 2025, and later convicted by Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court in September 2025 for plotting a coup.

Public image and significance

Bolsonaro is a highly polarizing figure in Brazilian politics, associated with conservative, nationalist, and anti-establishment politics. Coverage also notes that his rhetoric and policies drew strong criticism from opponents and human-rights advocates.