Brazil's Congress approves plan to drastically cut Bolsonaro's jail term

Last year ex-president Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in jail for plotting a coup after losing an election. Brazil's Congress approves plan to drastically cut Bolsonaro's jail term Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Police escort Jair Bolsonaro, who wears a green polo top, from hospital Brazil's Congress has overturned a veto of a bill that would dramatically reduce former president Jair Bolsonaro's prison sentence for plotting a coup after he lost the last election. Last year Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in jail for his attempt to cling to power after losing the 2022 elections to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Lula had tried to block a subsequent push by the conservative-majority Congress to reduce Bolsonaro's term to just over two years, but in a tense session on Thursday lawmakers overrode his veto of a law changing how prison sentences are calculated. The law could still be challenged in the Supreme Court. Bolsonaro, 71, was in March allowed to temporarily be placed under house arrest due to ill health. The former army captain, who served one term as president from 2019 to 2022, had known of plans to assassinate Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, Supreme Court justices said as he was found guilty in September. Without the backing of the senior leaders of the country's armed forces, the conspiracy failed and Lula was sworn in without incident on 1 January 2023. After Lula's veto was defeated, several lawmakers loudly chanted freedom and Flavio Bolsonaro - the name of the imprisoned ex-leader's eldest son who has aspirations for the office once held by his father. "I thank the deputies and senators for this very special birthday present," Flavio Bolsonaro, a Brazilian senator, posted on X regarding the veto override that coincided with his 45th birthday. More than two thirds of Congress voted to pass the legislation which proposes reducing sentences for individuals convicted of coup-related acts. It's the second blow to the left-wing government from Brazilian lawmakers this week and for Lula, who is campaigning for a fourth term. The day before the veto was overturned, the Senate rejected Lula's candidate for a Supreme Court justice, Jorge Messias. It was the first time in decades that the president's picks for a seat on the top court has been rejected, and it marked momentum for the younger Bolsonaro, who is tied with Lula in the polls. Jair Bolsonaro is wearing a dark green polo short as he leaves hospital on 14 September in Brasilia. A police officer can be seen behind him. Brazil's Bolsonaro gets temporary house arrest for ill-health Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro pictured from the neck up during an interview with Reuters in Brasilia, Brazil, on July 18, 2025. He is wearing a dark shirt and has a stern expression. Bolsonaro ordered to start serving 27-year prison sentence for Brazil coup plot Alexandre Ramagem was sentenced to 16 years in jail for plotting a military coup in Brazil but had already fled the country. Former President Jair Bolsonaro was moved from his cell to hospital earlier this month with pneumonia. The former far-right leader's wife said he had more treatment because the hiccups "had not stopped' since the weekend. The access route to Morro Dois Irmãos was blocked during the operation in Vidigal, leaving scores of alarmed sightseers stuck on the hill. Bolsonaro ally Alexandre Ramagem was stopped by immigration agents in Orlando, Florida on Monday. Brazil assistant coach Davide Ancelotti has tipped Chelsea's 18-year-old winger Estevao Willian to be the surprise package at the summer's World Cup. Around 80 firefighters and 20 fire trucks tackled the blaze, the state's military fire department said, adding that no one was hurt. Former Chelsea and Brazil midfielder Oscar retires after being diagnosed with a heart condition.