Lula defies Brazil's Congress and Vetoes Jan. 8 Sentence Reduction that Would Benefit Bolsonaro - Folha de S.Paulo

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Thursday (8) fully vetoed a bill that would have reduced sentences for those involved in the January 8, 2023 attacks on the headquarters of Brazil’s three branches of government in Brasília. The proposal, approved by Congress, would also have benefited former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is serving a sentence in the federal capital for his role in a coup plot.

"We have no right to forget the past. That is why we accept neither civilian dictatorship nor military dictatorship. Long live democracy," Lula said during a ceremony at the Planalto Palace, attended by government allies and left-wing movements chanting "no amnesty," exactly three years after the attacks.

The veto had already been signaled by Lula. The speakers of the Chamber of Deputies, Hugo Motta, and the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre, skipped the ceremony to avoid friction with lawmakers who support Bolsonaro.

Congress may still overturn the veto. If that happens, the Planalto Palace is considering challenging the decision at Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court.