Brazil Senate Backs Bill Cutting Bolsonaro Jail Term, Setting Up Clash with Lula

The Brazilian Senate has approved legislation that could significantly reduce the prison sentence of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, convicted for a coup plot following his 2022 electoral defeat, in a move that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has promised to veto.

The Brazilian Senate on Wednesday passed a bill aimed at reducing the prison sentence of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, convicted for planning a coup after losing re-election to leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The bill, which was passed by the lower house last week, is now before Lula, whose expected veto could ultimately be overridden by Congress.

Bolsonaro, 70, began serving a 27-year prison sentence in November and, under current rules, was required to serve at least eight years behind bars before becoming eligible for a more lenient regime.

The new legislation, which changes how sentences are calculated for certain crimes, could see Bolsonaro serve just over two years in prison.

After months of maneuvers by Bolsonaro supporters in Congress for a form of amnesty, the bill advanced surprisingly quickly through the conservative-controlled lower house and the more balanced Senate.

Bolsonaro's eldest son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro — whom the former president has named as the right-wing candidate for the 2026 elections — had called on the upper house to "settle this matter once and for all."

The bill sparked protests in several Brazilian cities on Sunday, where demonstrators chanted "no amnesty" and held banners reading: "Congress, enemy of the people."

Although political forces are more balanced in the Senate, the bill was approved by 48 votes to 25.

Centrist Senator Renan Calheiros called the vote a "farce" and left the session, accusing government allies in parliament of allowing the vote in exchange for support for a budget initiative as part of a behind-the-scenes deal.

The bill's author, Deputy Paulinho da Forca, said it was a "gesture of reconciliation" in a polarized country.

Senators modified the bill's wording to limit its scope, fearing it might lighten punishment for a wide range of criminals.

It specifically aims to benefit those convicted in the coup plot, as well as more than 100 Bolsonaro supporters imprisoned for their role in the January 2023 riots against government buildings in Brasilia, shortly after Lula took office.

Senator Sergio Moro, Bolsonaro's former Justice Minister, welcomed that the bill would "allow these people to be released from prison, which is the most important thing right now."

Bolsonaro is serving his sentence in a special room at a police facility in the capital, Brasilia, after a dramatic start to his detention when he damaged his electronic monitoring bracelet while under house arrest.

Lula has promised to veto the bill, stating that Bolsonaro "must pay" for his crimes.

"This bill is intended to be vetoed" by Lula, said Senator Randolfe Rodrigues of Lula's Workers' Party (PT).

However, Congress has the final say and can override the presidential veto.

Bolsonaro was convicted for a plot to prevent Lula from taking office after his narrow defeat in the highly contested 2022 election, which highlighted deep political divisions in Brazil.

The plot allegedly involved plans to assassinate Lula, his vice president Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.

Prosecutors said the plot failed due to lack of support from senior military officers.