Major Brazilian cities witnessed massive demonstrations on Sunday as tens of thousands of citizens mobilized against legislative efforts to substantially reduce former President Jair Bolsonaro’s prison term. The controversial bill, which cleared the lower house of Congress last week amid chaotic proceedings, would potentially slash Bolsonaro’s 27-year sentence for coup plotting to just over two years.
The protests spanned multiple urban centers including Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, and Salvador, with particularly significant gatherings at Rio’s iconic Copacabana Beach. The demonstration there attracted approximately 19,000 participants, including prominent cultural figures such as Oscar-winning actress Fernanda Torres and legendary 83-year-old singer Caetano Veloso, who performed at the rally. São Paulo saw around 13,700 protesters marching through its streets.
Protesters displayed signs with strong political messages, including some that labeled members of Congress as ‘enemies of the people,’ reflecting the deep polarization surrounding the legislation. This represents the latest in a series of anti-Bolsonaro demonstrations, following similar gatherings in September that opposed calls for his official pardon.
The legislative proposal has ignited intense debate as it would not only affect Bolsonaro’s sentence but could also reduce penalties for thousands detained for their involvement in the January 2023 assault on government buildings in Brasília. The violent attack occurred after Bolsonaro’s electoral defeat to left-wing rival Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, whom the former president was convicted of plotting to assassinate.
The bill now advances to the Senate, where its fate remains uncertain. Even if approved by both legislative chambers, President Lula is expected to exercise his veto power, though Congress could potentially override such a veto given the conservative majority in the Chamber of Deputies.