Thousands Rally in Brazil Against Potential Amnesty Bill for Bolsonaro 

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across Brazil on Sunday to protest against measures that would boost lawmakers’ immunity from prosecution and also grant amnesty to former President Jair Bolsonaro and others who have been convicted of plotting a coup to remain in power following an election loss, MercoPress reported. 

Protesters marched in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Salvador, carrying signs reading, “Congress, enemy of the people,” and “shameless.” Many chanted “no amnesty,” and shouted “prison for Bolsonaro.”  

The protests followed the lower house of the legislature’s decision to fast-track the amnesty bill, which still needs approval by a majority of the legislators in that house before moving on to the Senate. 

The legislation, pushed by Bolsonaro’s allies in the legislature, which is controlled by conservatives, is currently aimed at those individuals who vandalized government buildings on Jan. 8, 2023, during an attempted takeover by Bolsonaro supporters. However, some are worried the bill could be expanded to cover other individuals convicted of plotting a coup, including Bolsonaro.  

The former president was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison earlier this month and will remain under house arrest until all appeals are exhausted, the BBC wrote. 

The other bill, which would amend the constitution and was passed in the lower house, would make it harder to criminally prosecute lawmakers: For a lawmaker to be charged or arrested, members of Congress would need to give their approval in a secret ballot. 

Critics call it the “Banditry Bill,” while Congress members who are in favor of it say it is necessary to protect them from what they call “judicial overreach.” The amendment will now move on to the Senate. 

Meanwhile, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he supported the demonstrations, writing on X that he will veto the amnesty bill if passed by the Senate.