Brazil Congress overrides Lula veto to reduce Bolsonaro prison sentence
Key takeaways
- Brazil’s Congress on Thursday overrode a presidential veto to pass a bill reducing former President Jair Bolsonaro’s 27-year sentence for plotting a coup, dealing a blow to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
- The legislation, which will be challenged in court, indicates a weakening of Lula’s position in Congress ahead of his bid for reelection in the country’s October presidential election.
- It’s unclear how much time Bolsonaro will serve for his conviction for leading a coup attempt, but analysts say the move could shave 20 years off his sentence.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Brazil’s Congress on Thursday overrode a presidential veto to pass a bill reducing former President Jair Bolsonaro’s 27-year sentence for plotting a coup, dealing a blow to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The measure, set to face legal challenges, could cut his term by about 20 years.
By: FRANCE 24 Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (center), son of Jair Bolsonaro, celebrates alongside other lawmakers the passage of a law that will allow for the reduction of sentences for coup-plotting imposed on the former president, Brazil, April 30, 2026. © Andre Borges, EFE Brazil’s Congress voted Thursday to override a presidential veto and adopt a bill to reduce former President Jair Bolsonaro’s 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup, in a blow to his political rival and current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The legislation, which will be challenged in court, indicates a weakening of Lula’s position in Congress ahead of his bid for reelection in the country’s October presidential election.