In September 2018, as Jair Bolsonaro campaigned in the south-eastern city of Juiz de Fora, a 40-year-old man pushed through the crowd and stabbed the presidential candidate in the stomach.
Images of Bolsonaro doubled over in pain, wearing a T-shirt in Brazil's football colours, were shared millions of times and broadcast endlessly on television.
The former army captain survived, and the shock and commotion caused by the attack boosted his outsider image and helped carry him to victory weeks later.
Seven years on, Brazil's Supreme Court has found him guilty of plotting a coup and sentenced him to more than 27 years in prison. On the face of it, Bolsonaro's career is over.
However, he remains one of the most consequential politicians of recent decades, and with allies already pushing for amnesty, his influence and even the prospect of a comeback still hangs over Brazil's future.

The long road to power

Because of his inflammatory rhetoric, Bolsonaro was never taken seriously by most of Brazil's political establishment before becoming president. In July 2018, three months before the election, pollsters felt he lacked the machinery of a major party needed to win.
Bolsonaro started as a congressman, often making incendiary statements in defense of the military dictatorship that ruled Brazil until 1985. His support burgeoned in 2018 as widespread disillusionment with existing politicians allowed him to capitalize on mounting frustration.
In October 2018, that coalition turned out in force to vote him into power. His presidency looked nothing like any Brazilian government since the country's return to democracy in the 1980s.

An outsider who changed everything

Bolsonaro managed to turn the Brazilian right into a mass movement, appointing a cabinet largely made up of military officers and pro-business interests aligned with the likes of Donald Trump. His policies prompted international backlash, particularly regarding environmental issues.
Bolsonaro's leadership became even more contentious during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he openly opposed public health measures.

The president's nemesis

The Supreme Court became his most formidable opponent, particularly Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who led investigations into misinformation and threats against democracy linked to Bolsonaro.

Conspiracy and election controversy

In the lead-up to the 2022 elections, Bolsonaro campaigned against the integrity of Brazil's electronic voting system, sowing chaos ahead of a close electoral battle with former President Lula, who ultimately prevailed by a narrow margin.

Obstinance turns to violence

Following his electoral loss, Bolsonaro's supporters instigated protests, leading to an unprecedented storming of government buildings on January 8, 2023.

The end of the line... for now

Though Bolsonaro has been convicted and barred from holding office, political maneuvering for amnesty by his supporters paints a complex picture of Brazil's future political landscape. Investigations into his actions across the political spectrum continue as he navigates a system that seems anything but finalized.