Brazilian lawmakers voted to override President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's veto of a bill that reduces Jair Bolsonaro's prison sentence, marking another significant defeat for the leftist leader as he prepares for his reelection campaign this year.
Majorities in both the lower house and the Senate voted on Thursday to overturn the veto, approving legislation that will limit the amount of time Bolsonaro and others will serve for plotting a coup attempt after the right-wing former president's 2022 election loss. The move underscores the strength of Bolsonaro's allies in Brazil's conservative legislature, which has consistently posed challenges for Lula since he returned to the presidency in 2023.
Historic Setback for Lula
The votes followed a historic setback for Lula on Wednesday, when the Senate rejected his nominee for a vacant Supreme Court seat. This marked the first time since 1894 that lawmakers refused to approve a president's pick for the court. The veto override similarly demonstrated the influence of Bolsonaro supporters in Congress, a body that has frequently obstructed Lula's agenda.
Election Season Context
Both events occurred at the outset of an election season in which Lula is expected to face a major challenge from Flavio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of the former president. The 45-year-old senator was among the leaders of the push to block Attorney General Jorge Messias from joining the Supreme Court, a body that conservatives have accused of overreach and political persecution as it has prosecuted participants in the riots following Jair Bolsonaro's electoral defeat.
Flavio, who is tied with Lula in early polls, has pledged to free his father and seek the impeachment of prominent Supreme Court members, such as Justice Alexandre de Moraes, should he win the October election.
Bolsonaro's Conviction and Sentence Reduction
The elder Bolsonaro was convicted in September of plotting a coup attempt. These charges stemmed from an investigation into the events of January 8, 2023, when thousands of his supporters stormed government buildings in Brasilia in an effort to overturn his narrow loss to Lula. Congress initially approved the bill to shorten his 27-year sentence in December, weeks after he was imprisoned. The legislation gained traction after Flavio Bolsonaro announced his plans to run for president with his father's blessing.
Lula vetoed the legislation in January, during a ceremony marking the third anniversary of the Brasilia riots. However, the veto override now reduces Bolsonaro's sentence to 20 years and nine months. Additionally, the bill caps the time he would spend in a so-called "closed regime" to two years and four months, down from the six to eight years he currently faces, according to calculations from the lower house.
House Arrest Status
The former president is currently under house arrest, after Moraes ruled in April that he could spend 90 days at home to recover from ongoing health problems. His lawyers have sought a permanent transfer to house arrest, a request that Moraes previously rejected but said he would review after the current period ends.
