Jair Bolsonaro: Congress of Brazil allows reducing sentence for former president, new defeat for Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Brazilian Congress gave the green light this Thursday to reduce the prison sentence for the coup against the former president Jair Bolsonaroin a second parliamentary defeat in less than 24 hours for the president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

By 318 to 144 votes in Deputies and 49 to 24 in Senators, legislators overturned a veto by the leftist Lula to a law that alters the way of calculating prison times, for the benefit of Bolsonaro (2019-2022) and others convicted of a coup attempt.

The vote came after a tense session with shouts and provocations from both sides.

Less than six months before the elections in which the president plans to seek re-election, opposition congressmen celebrated the victory by jumping and chanting the word “freedom”.

They also sang the name of the presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaroeldest son of Jair Bolsonaro.

The court sentenced far-right Jair Bolsonaro, 71, to 27 years in prison in September for trying to cling to power after losing the elections against Lula in 2022.

“I thank the deputies and senators for this very special birthday gift, overthrowing the veto of the dosimetry bill“, wrote on the social network X, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, whose birthday coincided with the historic session.

At 45 years old, Jair Bolsonaro’s political heir is tied with Lula, 80, in voting intention surveys.

“For the greatest leader of the right, Jair Messias Bolsonarothe right votes ‘no’ (to the veto) and hopes that the broad and general amnesty will come with the election of Flávio Bolsonaro“said the Bolsonaro deputy Luciano Zucco.

The so-called “dosimetry law” can benefit Bolsonaro and also citizens imprisoned for the events of January 8, 2023, with a reduction in the sentence.

That day Bolsonaro protesters destroyed the headquarters of public powers in Brasiliain what the court interpreted as part of the coup movement.

“We saw so much injustice, so many things, and it seems that now we can feel a little relief“Diene Vilar, a friend of a woman who is serving a 15-year sentence in house arrest for participating in those riots, told AFP.

“This type of punishment cannot build peace in the country“, the right-wing senator told the press Amin Esperidião after the vote.

“(Lula’s) veto was a political mistake (…) and the response came today”he added.

The tense day in Congress followed Wednesday’s historic vote, when for the first time in more than 100 years the Senate rejected a presidential nominee for the supreme court.

The shouts, insults and mockery from both sides led the president of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre to threaten to suspend the session.

But the vote went ahead and, after the victory of the right, Alcolumbre and Flávio Bolsonaro hugged each other.

“What happened here today is dangerous: the advance of the extreme right in this current process brings the perspective of new adventures against democracy in the future“, the deputy told reporters Pedro Uczai leader of the ruling party in the lower house.

According to the previous rule, Bolsonaro, under house arrest due to his recurring health problems, could only opt for procedural benefits in 2033.

With the breaking of the veto, that period can be reduced. The former president’s lawyers must make a request for the supreme court to recalculate the conditions of the sentence.

The highest court is the target of criticism from the right after having convicted Bolsonaro in 2025, in a trial that even provoked retaliation against Brazil by the government of Donald Trump.