Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court has temporarily halted a law that aimed to reduce prison sentences for those involved in the January 8, 2023, attacks on government establishments, including former President Jair Bolsonaro. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, responsible for reviewing the law’s constitutionality, made the decision to suspend it to ensure legal clarity while assessing its compatibility with Brazil’s constitution.
The entire court is set to examine legal challenges against the legislation, which was approved by Congress President Davi Alcolumbre after lawmakers overrode a veto by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro, who was previously sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison by the Supreme Federal Court for leading an attempted coup, could be impacted by this law suspension.
In a related development, the Congress recently overturned President Lula da Silva’s veto on a sentencing bill that could potentially reduce penalties for individuals convicted in the aforementioned attacks on federal government buildings. This bill, termed the “dosimetry” bill, allows for sentence reductions ranging from one-third to two-thirds for those convicted as part of a crowd, excluding organizers or financiers, affecting around 280 individuals, including Bolsonaro.
