The Brazilian president has publicly committed to vetoing legislation that would provide substantial relief to those convicted in the 2022 coup attempt, including former President Jair Bolsonaro. Lula da Silva made his position clear following the bill’s passage through congress, stating that accountability for attacks on democracy cannot be compromised. The legislation would reduce Bolsonaro’s 27-year sentence through a mechanism that consolidates related criminal charges.
Congressional approval of the bill came despite concerns about its impact on democratic norms and accountability. The lower house passed the measure last week, with the senate following suit on Wednesday evening. Lula’s response included an acknowledgment of political realities, noting that the conservative-majority congress has the power to override presidential vetoes. This sets up a potential constitutional confrontation between branches of government.
Analysis by legal professionals suggests the bill could reduce Bolsonaro’s required time in maximum-security confinement from six years to approximately 25 months. The calculation incorporates various sentence reduction mechanisms available in Brazilian law, including credits for good behavior and participation in educational programming. Bolsonaro is currently housed in a special facility at federal police headquarters while his lawyers pursue medical treatment authorization.
The political response to the bill’s passage has been mixed, with Bolsonaro’s family expressing cautious optimism despite not achieving their goal of complete amnesty. Senator Flávio Bolsonaro characterized the legislation as the best achievable outcome under current circumstances, signaling the family’s pragmatic approach to political realities. This positioning may be related to the senator’s potential presidential campaign in 2026.
The legislation’s implications reach far beyond individual cases, affecting the broader framework for accountability in Brazilian democracy. Military officers and civilian participants in the coup attempt and related violence would all benefit from sentence reductions. This has generated pushback from those who viewed the original convictions as crucial for establishing that attacks on democratic institutions carry serious consequences. Opinion research shows most Brazilians oppose these sentence reductions, indicating potential political risks for supporters of the legislation.