The Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva government is preparing a ceremony to mark three years since the January 8th coup attacks, and allies argue that the president should not use the ceremony to veto the dosimetry bill in the presence of the heads of the Legislature. The gesture is considered a trend at Palácio do Planalto, but some of the assistants want to avoid a new episode of tension with Congress.
The proposal to reduce sentences, approved by Parliament in the last days of 2025, benefits former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and others involved in the coup plot.
The idea of the ceremony is to defend democracy and Brazilian institutions, three years after the invasion of the headquarters of the three Powers in Brasília, in 2023, and reinforce that what happened cannot be forgotten.
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Furthermore, the president’s allies say that the act takes on a new dimension given the conclusion of the trial in the Federal Supreme Court (STF) of the coup plot, which led Bolsonaro and his assistants to prison.
In the Legislature, the government’s base is divided over the decision to veto the project at Thursday’s ceremony — the PT member has until the 12th of this month to do so. He has already decided that he will block the matter and demonstrated to his allies his intention that this could happen on the 8th.
Relationship between Powers
An assistant to Lula says that the president’s will will prevail, but argues that this should not happen during the ceremony, to avoid any friction with representatives of the other Powers, especially at a time when the Planalto is working to relax its relationship with the Legislature.
The presidents of the Chamber, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB); from the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre (União Brasil-AP); and from the STF, Edson Fachin, were invited to the institutional event, but have not yet confirmed their presence.
Another frequent interlocutor of the President of the Republic, however, minimizes any tension in the relationship with the heads of the Legislature and says that what Lula’s position will be has already been determined in Congress.
In his view, there will therefore be no discomfort. On the contrary, he says that it would be important for this to occur on January 8th, giving greater weight and symbolism to the decision.
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A third assistant to the PT member says that the final word on making the veto official should be debated in meetings with the president today, when he returns to Brasília, and tomorrow.
Planalto also invited government ministers to participate in the ceremony. In addition to the event, an activity is planned outside the Palácio do Planalto, with the participation of representatives of civil society and social movements.
According to people who are participating in the organization, the expectation is that the president will walk down the palace ramp at the end of the event to join the public.
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Pro-Latin America
The PT called for actions across the country on the 8th in defense of democracy and Brazilian sovereignty. One of the themes is mobilization against the dosimetry bill.
In light of the invasion of Venezuela by the United States that led to the capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro, on Saturday, representatives of Lula’s party executive also advocate incorporating the defense of Latin American sovereignty in these demonstrations.
“The ceremony has this double meaning: the defense of democracy and sovereignty. And what is true for Brazil is true for Latin America. The act takes on great symbolism at a time when what happened in Venezuela is happening. The act took on this new connotation”, says the leader of the government in the Chamber, José Guimarães (PT-CE).
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Minister Guilherme Boulos, from the General Secretariat of the Presidency, states that the themes of sovereignty and defense of peace gained strength after the attacks in Venezuela and will be “complementary” at the ceremony on Thursday, but reinforces that the focus is the defense of Brazilian democracy.
“The center of the January 8th act is the defense of democracy and the condemnation of the coup. It is the first 8/1 after the conviction and arrest of the coup criminals. Now, it is clear that the themes of sovereignty and defense of peace gained strength after the US attacks and will be complementary in the act. Brazil defends democracy with national sovereignty. And this defense will be present in the 8/1 act”, says Boulos.
