Brazil’s Lula vetoes law reducing Bolsonaro’s 27-year jail sentence on riot anniversary
Congress has the last word, however, and can in turn reject the president’s veto
Brazil’s left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday vetoed a law dramatically reducing the prison sentence of former far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro, convicted last year of coup plotting.
Lula vetoed the law adopted by Congress late last year on the third anniversary of major riots by Bolsonaro supporters in the capital Brasilia over his defeat by Lula in the 2022 elections.
In scenes reminiscent of the 2021 US Capitol riots, thousands of demonstrators ransacked government buildings in Brasilia on January 8, 2023, a week after Lula’s inauguration for a third term.
The rioters called on Brazil’s military to overthrow Lula.
“January 8 is etched in our history as the day of our democracy’s victory,” Lula said at the presidential palace, which was among the buildings targeted by the rioters.
He added that it was a “victory over those who tried to seize power by force, disregarding the will expressed at the ballot box”.