Thousands of Brazilians Protest Bill Granting Ex-President Bolsonaro Amnesty
SAO PAULO, Brazil - Thousands of protesters took to the streets across Brazil on Tuesday, opposing draft bills in the National Congress that could grant amnesty to former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison for his role in an attempted military coup.
The protests, which drew thousands of people in more than a dozen cities, including Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasilia, were largely peaceful, with demonstrators chanting slogans and waving signs. Music legends Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque, and Gilberto Gil performed a protest concert in Rio's Copacabana neighborhood.
"We are here to defend democracy and the rule of law," said Maria Luiza, a 35-year-old teacher who attended the rally in Sao Paulo. "If they grant amnesty to Bolsonaro, it will be a huge blow to our country's institutions."
The draft bills, which have been put forward by the conservative-majority Congress, aim to boost lawmakers' immunity and push for an amnesty that could include Bolsonaro. The former president was convicted in March of attempting to obstruct the 2022 presidential election and inciting violence against Congress, the Supreme Court, and other institutions.
The move has sparked widespread outrage among Brazilians, who see it as an attempt by the National Congress to protect its own interests rather than address pressing social and economic issues. "This is a clear example of how our politicians are more interested in protecting themselves than in serving the people," said Luiz Carlos, a 50-year-old mechanic who attended the protest in Rio.
The protests come as Brazil's economy struggles with high inflation, unemployment, and poverty rates. Many Brazilians feel that the National Congress has failed to address these issues, instead focusing on legislation that benefits lawmakers themselves.
In response to the protests, the government has maintained that the draft bills are necessary to protect lawmakers from prosecution for their actions in office. "We understand that there is a lot of misinformation about this bill," said a spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice. "Our intention is to ensure that our politicians can work without fear of persecution."
The National Congress is expected to vote on the draft bills in the coming weeks, with many predicting that they will pass despite opposition from civil society groups and some lawmakers.
Background:
Bolsonaro was elected president in 2018 on a platform of far-right policies, including anti-immigrant rhetoric and promises to roll back social and economic reforms. His presidency was marked by controversy, including his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and his attempts to undermine democratic institutions.
In March, Bolsonaro was convicted of attempting to obstruct the 2022 presidential election and inciting violence against Congress, the Supreme Court, and other institutions. He is currently serving his sentence in a federal prison in Brasilia.
The National Congress has been dominated by conservative lawmakers since the 2018 elections, which saw a surge in support for far-right parties. Many Brazilians have expressed concern that this shift has led to a decline in democratic standards and an increase in polarization.
Additional Perspectives:
Some lawmakers have defended the draft bills as necessary to protect politicians from prosecution for their actions in office. "We need to ensure that our politicians can work without fear of persecution," said Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, Jair's son and a member of the conservative Liberal Party.
However, many civil society groups and opposition parties have condemned the move as an attempt by the National Congress to protect its own interests rather than address pressing social and economic issues. "This is a clear example of how our politicians are more interested in protecting themselves than in serving the people," said Luiz Carlos, a 50-year-old mechanic who attended the protest in Rio.
Current Status:
The draft bills are expected to be voted on by the National Congress in the coming weeks, with many predicting that they will pass despite opposition from civil society groups and some lawmakers. The outcome of the vote is likely to have significant implications for Brazil's democratic institutions and its economy.
*Reporting by Aljazeera.*
