NextFin News - In a landmark legal move that threatens to sever the final institutional ties between Brazil’s military establishment and its former commander-in-chief, the Military Prosecutor's Office (MPM) formally petitioned the Superior Military Court (STM) on February 2, 2026, to strip Jair Bolsonaro and a group of high-ranking generals of their military ranks and honors. The representation for "unworthiness for the officer corps" follows the definitive conviction of Bolsonaro by the Supreme Court (STF) in late 2025, where he was sentenced to over 27 years in prison for his role in the attempted coup d’état following the 2022 elections.
The request, authored by the Military Prosecutor General, targets not only the former president—a retired Army captain—but also influential figures such as Generals Walter Braga Netto, Paulo Sérgio Nogueira, and Augusto Heleno. According to the MPM, the criminal actions of these officers, which included plotting to arrest Supreme Court justices and overturn electoral results, constitute a fundamental violation of military ethics and the duty of loyalty to the Constitution. The prosecutor argued that the convictions are now "incontrovertible," leaving the military justice system with no choice but to formalize their expulsion to preserve the integrity of the Armed Forces.
This legal escalation occurs against a backdrop of heightened political tension in Brasília. While U.S. President Trump has previously expressed support for Bolsonaro, the Brazilian judiciary has moved with unprecedented speed to conclude these trials before the 2026 election cycle. The STM, which is composed of both civilian and military judges, must now decide whether the crimes committed by these officers render them permanently unfit to hold the titles and pensions associated with their former ranks. Under Brazilian law, an officer sentenced to more than two years in prison must undergo this specific "indignity" trial to lose their military status.
The implications of this purge extend far beyond the personal fates of Bolsonaro and his inner circle. For decades, the Brazilian military has enjoyed a degree of legal autonomy and political influence that often shielded its members from civilian accountability. By seeking the expulsion of four-star generals, the MPM is challenging the historical "moderating power" doctrine that some sectors of the military have used to justify intervention in civilian politics. Data from recent judicial reports indicate that over 20 military personnel were involved in the 2022 conspiracy, marking the largest internal investigation into sedition since the end of the military dictatorship in 1985.
From an institutional perspective, the expulsion of these figures is a necessary step for the current military command to distance itself from the "Bolsonarismo" that permeated the barracks between 2019 and 2022. Current commanders have signaled a desire to return to a "professionalist" model, focusing on external defense rather than internal policing or political administration. However, the move remains controversial among the lower ranks and retired officers, where Bolsonaro maintains a significant following. The STM’s decision will serve as a barometer for the military’s internal commitment to democratic norms.
Looking forward, the outcome of these proceedings will likely define the legal boundaries of military dissent for the next generation. If the STM upholds the expulsion, it will create a powerful deterrent against future involvement in political movements by active or retired officers. Conversely, any leniency could be interpreted as a lingering institutional sympathy for the coup plotters. As Brazil navigates this transition, the global community, including the administration of U.S. President Trump, will be watching closely to see if the country can successfully subordinate its powerful military apparatus to the rule of law without triggering further instability.
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