The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, announced today that he will veto the bill that reduces sentences for those convicted of attempting a coup d'état in early 2023, including former President Jair Bolsonaro. In this regard, the current head of state stated at a press conference that Congress has the right to override the veto, but he maintained that those convicted by the Federal Supreme Court (STF) must pay for the crimes committed against democracy. «People who committed crimes against Brazilian democracy will have to pay for their acts. The trial hasn't even finished yet, people are being convicted and they are already deciding to reduce the sentences,» Lula pointed out. Likewise, and as Noticias Argentinas agency learned via Xinhua, Lula expressed: «With all the respect I have for the National Congress, when it reaches my desk, I will veto it. After that, they have the right to reject or not my veto,» and in that case, it will be debated again in Congress. Bolsonaro, sentenced to 27 years and three months, who is serving his sentence at the Federal Police Superintendency in Brasília, could benefit from this bill. Now, Lula has two weeks to decide.
