Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva vetoed a bill passed by congress that would have significantly reduced the potential prison sentence for former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was convicted last year of plotting a coup. The veto occurred on the third anniversary of the January 8, 2023, riots in Brasília, where Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings to protest Lula's victory in the 2022 election.

The bill, approved by congress in December, sought to amend the penal code in ways that would lessen the severity of penalties for crimes against the democratic rule of law. Critics argued that the changes would disproportionately benefit individuals involved in the January 8th riots and other attempts to subvert the democratic process. Supporters of the bill contended that it aimed to correct overly harsh punishments and ensure fairer application of the law.

The riots, which took place a week after Lula's inauguration, saw thousands of demonstrators vandalize the Supreme Court, the presidential palace, and the National Congress, echoing the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The protesters called for military intervention to overturn the election results and reinstate Bolsonaro.

Lula's administration has characterized the riots as an attack on Brazilian democracy and has vowed to hold those responsible accountable. Bolsonaro, who was out of the country at the time of the riots, has denied any involvement in the planning or execution of the events. However, he was later found guilty of abuse of power and misuse of official communication channels during the 2022 election campaign, rendering him ineligible to run for office until 2030.

The veto now returns the bill to congress, where lawmakers can override Lula's decision with a majority vote in both houses. The debate over the bill is expected to be highly contentious, reflecting the deep political divisions within Brazil. The decision will likely influence the legal proceedings against Bolsonaro and others implicated in the January 8th riots.