Brazil Court Blocks Bolsonaro Sentence Reduction

Brazil's Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has suspended a bill that would have dramatically reduced former President Jair Bolsonaro's 27-year prison sentence for his role in plotting a coup after losing the 2022 election. The ruling comes as Brazil prepares for upcoming elections, with Bolsonaro's son Flávio poised to challenge President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

According to The Guardian, the bill would have cut Bolsonaro's prison term to just over two years and reduced sentences for those convicted over a January 2023 riot, when Bolsonaro supporters invaded and ransacked the presidential palace, Supreme Court, and Congress. The bill was approved last year but faced opposition from two Brazilian political parties and the press association ABI, who challenged its constitutionality.

Reuters reports that Moraes ruled the bill should not be implemented until Brazil's top court concludes work in two judicial proceedings where plaintiffs requested nullification of the measure. Bolsonaro's lawyers have yet to formally request a reduction of his sentence due to the bill but filed a motion for criminal review with the Supreme Court to overturn the sentence on Friday.

Al Jazeera notes that Bolsonaro's conviction has become a cause célèbre for Brazil's political right, who push for his release from prison. Meanwhile, opponents have welcomed it as necessary accountability. The upcoming elections and potential return of another Bolsonaro to power raise concerns about the future of South America's largest democracy.