Lawmakers in Brazil have taken a decisive step that could reshape a high-profile legal case, overriding President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to the benefit of Jair Bolsonaro.
In a sweeping vote across both chambers, Congress overturned Lula’s veto of a bill altering how prison sentences are calculated, opening the door for a significant reduction in Bolsonaro’s 27-year sentence over allegations tied to attempts to overturn the 2022 election outcome.
That unrest saw government buildings stormed by Bolsonaro supporters in scenes that drew comparisons to the January 6 United States Capitol attack in the United States, involving backers of former President Donald Trump.
Bolsonaro has consistently denied the allegations, insisting the case against him is politically driven.
His allies have echoed those claims, framing the prosecution as part of a broader campaign against the opposition.
The former president was recently moved to house arrest on medical grounds after being treated for a respiratory illness, as legal and political battles surrounding his case continue to unfold.
