After moving behind the scenes at the top of the three Powers, there is an impasse in the Chamber, with weeks of paralysis and the continued search for a “window of opportunity” for its vote.
The former president’s party says it will push for a vote next week, including an attempt to approve an amendment raising the effect of the sentence reduction measure to general amnesty.
The text is reported by the deputy (Solidariedade-SP) and, among other points, would reduce Bolsonaro’s prison time in a closed regime from 6 years and 10 months to something around 2 to 3 years.
The pressure for an amnesty for Bolsonaro and the others convicted of the coup plot and the attacks of January 8, 2023 gained momentum in early August after the Bolsonaro occupation of the plenary sessions of the Chamber and the .
The passed through an agreement that included voting on the Amnesty PL in the Chamber.
The proposal, however, initially encountered resistance from the president of the Chamber, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB), who was upset by the fact that he had not participated in the agreement that made it possible to unblock the plenary session, a task made by his predecessor, Arthur Lira (PP-AL).
Afterwards, the amnesty ended up becoming a proposal to reduce sentences with the aim of seeking greater support for approval.
The Chamber’s attempt to approve the call, however, once again postponed the analysis of the proposal. The PEC that sought to protect parliamentarians from investigations was shelved by the Senate after widespread popular rejection. In an attempt to minimize wear and tear, Motta shelved the possibility of putting the project reported by Paulinho on the agenda and put the vote on proposals considered “positive agendas”.
Negotiations surrounding the sentence reduction project were attended by ministers from the STF (Supreme Federal Court), and conversations continue even after the vote stalled in the Chamber.
Negotiations go through several fronts. The first is that a text approved by the Chamber is not shelved or defeated in the Senate, as occurred with the Blindagem PEC.
Deputies also claim that President Lula had told allies that he would veto the proposal to reduce sentences, which would generate new strain on congressmen. Even if this entire legislative phase (which has the power to override presidential vetoes) is completed, another front seeks to ensure that the STF will not overturn the measure later.
For this, according to people who are part of these conversations, a signal from Alexandre de Moraes and the STF group most aligned with him is essential.
Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison by the STF. Another seven defendants were sentenced to imprisonment.
The STF begins this Friday (7) the analysis of the appeals presented by the defenses. The expectation is that the action will be concluded in December, with prison enforcement beginning later this year.
The proposal being discussed in centrão circles reduces Bolsonaro’s total sentence to less than 20 years. The reduction in sentences would occur, among other things, by combining the crimes of coup d’état and the abolition of the democratic rule of law.
Around 1,200 people were convicted by the STF or reached agreements with the Public Ministry for their participation in January 8th. A balance released by the court in August reported that on that date 29 people were in preventive detention and 112 were serving permanent prison terms — another 44 were under house arrest.
The idea already expressed by Paulinho on other occasions is that the approval of the text that reduces the sentences would result in the immediate release of all those involved in the 8th of January who are still behind bars.
