The basic text, presented by deputy Paulo Pereira da Silva, proposes reducing the prison sentences imposed on all those convicted of the coup d’état against Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The parliamentarian, known as “Paulinho da Força”, said that Bolsonaro’s sentence could be reduced from the current 27 years to just over 2 years in prison.
According to the deputy, this project enables reconciliation in society.
“The people who committed some damage to property or committed a crime are already serving their sentences, they have already realized that you can’t play around with democracy,” he stated.
This new text establishes that, when the crimes of coup d’état and abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law are committed in the same context, only the most serious penalty is applied, instead of the sum of both.
The original proposal provided for amnesty, but it was changed so that it could receive support from the non-Bolsonaro right. “A project that is not ideal is possible”, said Liberal Party deputy Nikolas Ferreira, adding that Jair Bolsonaro, through his son, senator Flávio Bolsonaro, gave instructions to “give yes to this project”.
Among the more than 600 convictions, 279 were for crimes such as the attempted abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law and coup d’état, and the project – if passed – could benefit, like Bolsonaro, Almir Garnier, former commander of the Navy; Paulo Sérgio Nogueira, former Minister of Defense; Walter Braga Netto, former Minister of the Civil House; Augusto Heleno, former head of the Institutional Security Office (GSI); Anderson Torres, former Minister of Justice and Alexandre Ramagem, federal deputy.
Despite the approval of this project, the ‘bolsonarista’ parliamentarians stressed that they will continue to fight for amnesty.
Bolsonaro began serving an effective prison sentence of 27 years and 3 months on November 25th, as a result of his conviction on September 11th for the crimes of armed criminal organization, attempted violent abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law, coup d’état; qualified damage due to violence and serious threat and deterioration of listed heritage.
The former president never acknowledged his electoral defeat in the October 2022 presidential elections, launched unfounded criticisms of electronic voting machines, encouraged anti-democratic demonstrations in front of military bases and, according to the courts, designed plans to remain in power and even kill political and judicial opponents, including Lula da Silva himself and judge Alexandre de Moares.
The events culminated in the attacks in Brasília, on January 8, 2023.
Thousands of supporters of the former President invaded and vandalized the headquarters of the Federal Supreme Court, Congress and the Planalto Palace, in Brasília, in an attempted coup d’état to depose Lula da Silva from the Presidency.