Bolsonaro's defense drops request to suspend sentence

The defense of Jair Bolsonaro (PL) withdrew, this Thursday (24), the request to suspend the 27-year and three-month sentence he is serving under house arrest. The measure was withdrawn shortly after being filed with the reporting justice, Nunes Marques, within the scope of the criminal review pending before the Supreme Federal Court.

Reason for the withdrawal

According to a note released by the team, the request was withdrawn due to a "reassessment of the defense strategy." Less than three hours after the petition, the defense backtracked and announced the departure of lawyer Marcelo Bessa, from the Ávila de Bessa firm, from the team handling the case.

Departure of Marcelo Bessa

Marcelo Bessa, who has previously represented Bolsonaro and Valdemar Costa Neto, sent a statement asserting that the conduct of the case will be entirely handled by the lawyers who participated in the criminal action. For this reason, the firm will no longer act in the case.

Ongoing criminal review

The criminal review was filed in May 2026 and seeks to annul the conviction, alleging that the First Panel of the STF did not have the jurisdiction to try the former president, who should have been tried by the Plenary of the Court. The case remains under the rapporteurship of Nunes Marques and has not yet been judged.

Position of the Public Prosecutor's Office

The Prosecutor General's Office sent an opinion requesting that the criminal review not be heard, which is equivalent to dismissal without an analysis of the merits. The opinion was presented in June, but so far Nunes Marques has not issued a decision on the defense's urgent requests.

Bolsonaro's current situation

Bolsonaro is serving his sentence under humanitarian house arrest in Brasília, a measure granted in March 2026 due to health issues. Despite the withdrawal of the injunction, the defense continues to try to modify his legal status through the criminal review.

With information from Folha de S.Paulo, Terra, VEJA.