Sao Paulo, Brazil – Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies has passed a controversial bill that could reduce former President Jair Bolsonaro’s 27-year prison sentence for his role in the attempted coup on January 8, 2023. The legislation now moves to the Senate for approval.

Chaos in Congress

The late-night vote descended into chaos after a protest by left-wing congressman Glauber Braga, who attempted to block the session by occupying the chamber president’s chair. Police forcibly removed him, sparking a scuffle involving lawmakers, journalists, and security personnel.

Journalists covering the session were also expelled, and live broadcasts were interrupted. Tulio Amancio, a reporter for TV Band, described the scene as “a sad chapter in this story here in Congress,” noting that several media members were physically assaulted in the confusion.

Who Benefits from the Bill?

The bill proposes sentence reductions for over 1,000 individuals involved in the January 2023 attacks on government buildings in Brasilia, including Bolsonaro, several ministers, and military officials convicted of attempting to overturn the 2022 election results.

Critics, including Maria do Rosario of the left-wing Workers’ Party, condemned the vote as a threat to democracy, denouncing Chamber President Hugo Motta for calling police to remove Braga. Motta defended the action, stating Braga had “disrespected the legislative branch” and pledged an investigation into possible excesses in press coverage.

Bolsonaro’s Legal and Political Context

Bolsonaro, who served as president from 2019 to 2023, was convicted in September on multiple charges, including seeking to violently abolish Brazil’s democratic rule of law. He has refused to acknowledge the results of the 2022 election, which saw Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva elected as president. Since November, Bolsonaro has been detained at federal police headquarters in Brasilia.

His eldest son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, announced a run for the 2026 presidential election on December 5. Shortly after, he suggested he would withdraw if his father were released from prison, linking his candidacy to the fate of Bolsonaro’s sentence—a comment he later retracted.

Next Steps

The bill now awaits a vote in Brazil’s Senate, expected next week, which will determine whether Bolsonaro’s sentence and those of his supporters could be reduced.