16.01.2026 20:20
Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro plans to reduce his 27-year and 3-month prison sentence, imposed for plotting a coup, by spending time in the prison library. According to Brazilian laws, Bolsonaro can receive a four-day reduction in his sentence for each book he reads, and it has been reported that he aims to achieve a significant decrease in his sentence through this method. The former president needs to read approximately 2,500 books to completely nullify his sentence.
Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro plans to reduce his 27-year and 3-month prison sentence for "planning a coup" by spending time in the prison library. According to Brazilian law, Bolsonaro can receive a four-day reduction in his sentence for each book he reads, and it has been reported that he aims to achieve a significant reduction in his sentence through this method.
COUP ALLEGATIONS AND LONG PRISON SENTENCE
The Brazilian Supreme Court sentenced Bolsonaro to 27 years and 3 months in prison for planning a coup to overthrow the democratic order after losing the 2022 elections, in a ruling made on September 11. The decision became final on November 26, 2025.
IN A HIGH-SECURITY PRISON
Bolsonaro, who served as Brazil's president from 2019 to 2023, is currently reported to be detained in a high-security prison in the capital Brasília.
NEEDS TO READ 2,500 BOOKS
Brazilian legislation allows prisoners to receive a four-day reduction in their sentence for each book they read. According to this calculation, Bolsonaro needs to read approximately 2,500 books to completely eliminate his sentence.
According to a report by The Guardian, a high court judge approved the former president's participation in this sentence reduction program upon a request from Bolsonaro's lawyers.
READING LIST DRAWS ATTENTION
The reading list prepared for Bolsonaro includes Brazilian works addressing indigenous rights, racism, environmental issues, and the violence during the military dictatorship period from 1964 to 1985, which Bolsonaro openly supported in the past.
One of the prominent works on the list is Ana Maria Gonçalves' 950-page novel "Um Defeito de Cor" (A Flaw in Color). The book examines Brazilian history from the perspective of a Black woman.
CLASSICS OVER 1,000 PAGES ARE ALSO ON THE PROGRAM
The reading list also features world classics exceeding 1,000 pages, such as Tolstoy's War and Peace and Cervantes' Don Quixote.
To benefit from the sentence reduction program, prisoners must submit written evaluation reports regarding the books they have read to the prison authorities. Discounts are applied after the reports are reviewed.
During the 2018 presidential election, Bolsonaro responded to the question "What is your favorite book?" by naming the book of Colonel Carlos Alberto Brilhante Ustra, who was accused of torturing hundreds of detainees during the military dictatorship.
HE HAD SAID "I DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ"
In a previous statement, Bolsonaro was reminded that he had said, "I'm sorry, I don't have time to read. I haven't read a book in three years," and it remains a question of whether he will engage in an intensive reading program to reduce his sentence despite this.