Brazil's Chamber of Deputies witnessed moments of tension on Tuesday, with shoving and scuffles breaking out between deputies and members of the legislative security force. The unrest followed the presentation of a controversial bill proposing to reduce the prison sentence for former President Jair Bolsonaro. The bill, introduced by Deputy Paulo Pereira da Silva, proposes reducing prison sentences for all those convicted of plotting a coup against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The legislator, known as 'Paulinho da Força', stated that Bolsonaro's sentence could be reduced from the current 27 years to 2 years if the bill is approved. After announcing the bill's introduction, Deputy Glauber Braga, from the Socialism and Freedom Party (PSOL), occupied the presidency's chair in the lower house, protesting against the 'amnesty' project that 'rewards coup plotters'. The deputy was also protesting because the president of the lower house, Hugo Motta, admitted a process that could lead to his removal from office for having pushed a rival politician. Braga was forcibly removed by the Chamber of Deputies' security force, which also expelled journalists from the plenary session. Following that scene, protests, shoving, and shouting continued in the hallways of the lower house between deputies and advisors in a heated atmosphere. Motta announced that the bill on reducing penalties will be voted on this Tuesday and criticized Braga for attempting to 'hinder' legislative work. In a social media post, Motta also said he ordered an investigation into 'possible excesses' regarding the treatment of the press covering the session. If the bill is approved in the Chamber, it must be voted on in the Senate before it can take effect. The Senate will analyze it before the end of the year, as announced on Tuesday by the president of that body, Davi Alcolumbre. The bill to reduce sentences was presented two weeks after Bolsonaro began serving his 27-year prison sentence for leading the coup, which, according to Supreme Court judges, was launched after his defeat in the 2022 elections. Last Friday, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the former leader's son, announced that he will be a candidate for the presidency of Brazil in the 2026 elections, in which Lula will seek re-election.
Tension in Brazilian Congress over Bolsonaro sentence reduction bill
Shoving broke out in Brazil's Chamber of Deputies after a bill was introduced to reduce former President Jair Bolsonaro's prison sentence from 27 to 2 years. Opposition deputies were removed from the chamber.
