Brazil’s Supreme Court has sentenced Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison for plotting to overturn the 2022 election. As appeals move forward and amnesty bills circulate, the right must decide whether to cling to its founder or crown a successor. The majority found that the conspiracy began as early as 2021, weaponizing state institutions to erode trust in the electoral system. The coup verdict now acts as a stress test for Brazil’s institutions: will Congress respect the court, or seek ways to blunt its impact? The political clock ticks toward 2026, as parties test slogans, measure coalitions, and weigh the cost of amnesty.