Brazil Senate Passes Bill That Could Reduce Bolsonaro’s Prison Sentence

Brazil’s Senate has passed a bill that could significantly reduce the 27-year prison sentence of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was arrested in November for attempting a coup. The Chamber of Deputies had already approved the text, and it now goes to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for signature. Gleisi Hoffmann, Minister of Institutional Relations, said Wednesday evening that Lula will veto the bill.

“Those convicted of attacking democracy must pay for their crimes,” Hoffmann said on X, calling it a “sign of disrespect for the Supreme Court’s decision and a serious setback to legislation that protects democracy.”The text is also expected to be challenged at the Supreme Court. The bill reduces the final sentences of defendants convicted under multiple charges stemming from the coup attempt, including Bolsonaro.

The former president’s lawyers appealed to the Supreme Court after his conviction, saying his prison term was excessive. They also argued that the sentences for abolishing the rule of law and attempting a coup should not be added because they arose from a single episode. The proposed law would speed up sentence progression from harsher to more lenient prison regimes for those convicted. There is no consensus on how much time Bolsonaro would actually serve if the bill takes effect.