Brazil Supreme Court Justice Suspends Law That Could Cut Bolsonaro Prison Term

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has barred implementation of a law that could reduce the prison sentence of former President Jair Bolsonaro for involvement in a coup plot after his loss in the 2022 election. De Moraes ordered the law’s suspension on Saturday until the Supreme Court can convene a full hearing to consider appeals challenging its constitutionality.

The move halts any requests for sentence reductions tied to the legislation.

Bolsonaro’s conviction for involvement in a plot to remain in office after losing the 2022 election has drawn strong support from the country’s political right, which has sought his release from prison. The Supreme Court sentenced the former president to 27 years in prison in September. A law passed by Congress in December would have applied to Bolsonaro and others convicted in the plot.

It paved the way for reductions in their sentences. The president vetoed the bill in January, but Congress overrode the veto in late April. Plaintiffs asked the Supreme Court to overturn the bill, stating it is unconstitutional.

Lawyers for those convicted must file individual requests for sentence reduction. The ruling by de Moraes suspends such requests until the court decides on the law’s constitutionality. Lawyers for the 71-year-old Bolsonaro filed a new appeal to the Supreme Court on Friday, asking it to overturn what they called a “miscarriage of justice”.

His allies have described it as a political witch-hunt while opponents have called it accountability for former presidents.