Brazil Lower House Approves Bill That Could Slash Bolsonaro's Coup Sentence After Parliamentary Chaos

Brazil's Chamber of Deputies approved a controversial bill in the early hours of Wednesday that could dramatically reduce former president Jair Bolsonaro's prison term for plotting to block Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's 2023 inauguration. The measure passed amid heated debate and chaotic scenes on the floor of the lower house; it still requires Senate approval and judicial recalculation of sentences to take effect.

What the Bill Would Do

The legislation would lower penalties for several crimes, including attempting a coup d'etat, potentially cutting Bolsonaro's current 27-year sentence to roughly two years and four months in prison, according to Paulinho da Forca, who is leading negotiations on the proposal. The measure would also open the door to parole for about 100 supporters jailed after the January 8, 2023 attack on government buildings in Brasilia.

Chaotic Proceedings in the Chamber

The debate turned tumultuous on Tuesday when government-allied deputy Glauber Braga denounced what he called a "coup offensive" and occupied the Speaker's chair; police later removed him. Live television coverage was interrupted, journalists were removed from the plenary hall, and the session was temporarily suspended before votes resumed.

Braga said he was exercising his right "not to accept as a done deal an amnesty for a group of coup plotters."

Political Context and Reactions

Supporters of Bolsonaro in the conservative-majority Congress have been exploring options to ease his punishment for months. A broader amnesty proposal collapsed after nationwide protests, and lawmakers pivoted to sentence reductions. "The first step to achieving our goal will be the reduction of sentences," Congressman Sostenes Cavalcante said.

Critics condemned the effort as tailored to benefit a single individual. Lindbergh Farias, leader of the ruling Workers' Party in Congress, called the initiative "unacceptable," arguing it appeared designed to help Bolsonaro. Press groups also condemned the episode in the chamber: the FENAJ national press association and a journalists' union denounced what they called "censorship and aggression against the press" after reporters were ordered out of the hall.

Legal Process and Health Claims

If the bill becomes law, courts would be responsible for recalculating and reissuing individual sentences under the new framework. Bolsonaro's legal team has separately asked Brazil's Supreme Court to authorize his temporary release for surgery and to allow him to serve his sentence at home on "humanitarian" grounds, citing recently submitted medical documents that they say show a significant deterioration in his health following a 2018 stabbing and subsequent operations.

The bill resurfaced days after Bolsonaro publicly indicated support for his son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, as a potential 2026 successor; Flavio said he might consider withdrawing a presidential bid in exchange for an amnesty for his father. The lower house approval marks a significant political development but does not yet change Bolsonaro's legal status until the Senate and judiciary act.