Brazil’s National Congress became the epicenter of political turmoil on Tuesday as legislative proceedings devolved into physical altercations over a controversial bill seeking to reduce prison sentences for coup-related offenses. The proposed legislation, championed by conservative allies of imprisoned former President Jair Bolsonaro, sparked intense opposition from left-wing lawmakers, resulting in unprecedented scenes of chaos within the parliamentary chamber.
The confrontation reached its peak when federal police forcibly removed leftist congressman Glauber Braga after he occupied the Speaker’s chair in protest against what he termed a ‘coup offensive.’ Television feeds were abruptly terminated, and journalists were expelled from the chamber—a move condemned by press freedom organizations as blatant censorship.
This legislative battle unfolds against the backdrop of Bolsonaro’s ongoing 27-year incarceration, imposed by the Supreme Court in November for his role in attempting to orchestrate a military coup following his 2022 electoral defeat to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The proposed law would not only substantially reduce Bolsonaro’s sentence but also secure the release of dozens of his supporters convicted for storming government buildings in January 2023.
Simultaneously, Bolsonaro’s legal team has filed a new petition requesting temporary release from prison to undergo surgery, reiterating previous appeals for house arrest based on health concerns. The 70-year-old former leader has experienced significant medical complications, including intensive care hospitalization earlier this year following intestinal surgery and a life-threatening stabbing incident in 2018.
The sentencing reduction proposal represents the latest strategic maneuver by Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party, which maintains the largest congressional bloc despite the former president’s conviction. Previous attempts to secure full amnesty foundered amid widespread public protests, prompting conservative lawmakers to pursue sentence reduction as a compromise measure.
As of Tuesday evening, the legislation remained pending in the lower house, requiring subsequent ratification by the Senate before becoming law. The outcome promises to further deepen Brazil’s political divisions, testing the resilience of the country’s democratic institutions three years after Bolsonaro’s controversial election defeat.