Jan 9, 2026, 8:03 amJan 9, 2026, 8:03 am
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has vetoed a law to shorten the prison sentence of convicted ex-President Jair Bolsonaro. “Democracy is not an unshakable achievement,” said Lula on the third anniversary of the storming of the government buildings in Brasília on January 8, 2023. It must be “defended with tooth and claw, day after day,” he continued.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Image: keystone
The law, which provided for a reduction in the sentences of those convicted of those involved in the riots, was passed by the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate in December. Lula had already announced his veto. However, Congress can repeal this with a majority vote.
27 years in prison for Bolsonaro
Bolsonaro has been serving a prison sentence of more than 27 years since the end of November for an attempted coup. The Supreme Court found it proven that the former Brazilian president (2019-2022) had, together with co-conspirators, planned a coup against the government of his successor Lula after he was voted out of office. Bolsonaro’s supporters violently stormed Congress, the Supreme Court and the presidential palace three years ago.
Jair Bolsonaro has to serve a long prison sentence.Image: keystone
Lula described the anniversary as a turning point. “January 8th has gone down in history as the day of the victory of democracy,” he said. It is a victory “over those who tried to seize power by force and disregarded the will of the people expressed in the ballot box.” (dab/sda/dpa)