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, aimed to revise the penal code in a way that would lessen the severity of penalties for crimes against the democratic rule of law. Critics argued that the changes would disproportionately benefit Bolsonaro, who faces multiple investigations and legal challenges related to his actions before, during, and after the 2022 election.

The riots in Brasília, which mirrored the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, saw thousands of protestors vandalize the Supreme Court, presidential palace, and Congress building. The demonstrators called for military intervention to overturn the election results and prevent Lula from taking office.

Lula's administration has characterized the riots as an attempt to overthrow the democratically elected government. Bolsonaro, while condemning the violence, has repeatedly claimed the election was fraudulent, despite no evidence of widespread irregularities.

The veto now sends the bill back to congress, where lawmakers can override Lula's decision with a majority vote in both houses. The political landscape remains divided, with Bolsonaro's supporters likely to push for an override, while Lula's allies are expected to uphold the veto. The debate surrounding the bill reflects ongoing tensions and polarization in Brazil following the contentious 2022 election.