Brazil’s congress approves bill reducing prison sentence of former president Jair Bolsonaro
Summary
Brazil’s congress has approved a law that reduces the prison sentence of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who was convicted of attempting a coup. The lower house overturned President Lula’s veto, and the senate agreed, but a supreme court justice must confirm the change for it to take effect.Key Facts
- Jair Bolsonaro was convicted of trying to overthrow Brazil’s 2022 election results.
- Congress passed a bill to lower Bolsonaro’s prison sentence from 27 years and 3 months to 22 years and 1 month.
- The time Bolsonaro would spend in a strict prison regime could also be shortened, possibly allowing him to move to a less strict regime by 2028.
- President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva vetoed the bill in January, but Congress overrode his veto in both the lower house and the senate.
- Bolsonaro is currently under house arrest and his sentence reduction requires a supreme court review and approval.
- The bill affects about 280 others convicted for their roles in the attempted coup.
- Lula’s nominee for the supreme court was rejected by the senate, marking a rare defeat for a sitting president in Brazil.
- The political battle reflects deep divisions ahead of Brazil’s upcoming election, where Lula and Bolsonaro’s son Flávio are major competitors.
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