Tens of thousands of demonstrators have gone up the streets throughout Brazil to protest against plans in parliament to protect former president Jaïr Bolsonaro and federal parliament members against persecution by the judge. The right-wing populist Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years earlier this month for, among other things, planning a coup. Bolsonaro supporters who are still in parliament are now trying to secure a pardon for the former president-and possibly for himself.
The Brazilian lower house voted on Wednesday with a considerable majority for accelerated treatment of an amnesty law that could withstand the conviction of Bolsonaro and his henchmen. Commission debates that should be conducted on the legislation are circumvented by the accelerated treatment. The law would then go directly to the plenary mood.
Against this, massive protests took place in dozens of large cities in Brazil. The protests were organized by social movements, trade unions and left -wing parties. Well -known Brazilians such as musician Gilberto Gil and actor Wagner Moura – he also played in Narcos – helped to get crowds. They are the biggest demonstrations organized from the political left -wing flank in Brazil in years.
House arrest
In a provisional version of the amnesty law, grace would be granted to whom from October 30, 2022 was involved in ‘political demonstrations’. This would include Bolsonaro and his supporters who, after Bolsonaro lost the elections of the current Center-Linkse President Lula in the fall of 2022, wanted to commit a state handle. Part of the coup plans was to have Lula, his vice president and a high judge killed.
US President Donald Trump called the trial against Bolsonaro a “political witch hunt.” He tried, among other things, by imposing 50 percent levies on Brazilian export to the US to prevent persecution of his right -wing supporter, but did not succeed.
The 70-year-old Bolsonaro is currently in house arrest in the capital Brasilia. He has had health problems for years. It is therefore expected that his lawyers will try to have his prison sentence converted into a definitive house arrest.