Brazil's parliament descended into chaos on Tuesday as conservative lawmakers continued to push a law that would reduce the prison sentence of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
During the tumultuous session, one left-wing lawmaker was forcibly removed by police after trying to disrupt proceedings, while footage showed scuffles breaking out as security attempted to restore order.
Bolsonaro began a 27-year jail term in November for attempting to plot a coup following his 2022 election defeat. His conservative allies in Congress have proposed a law to mitigate sentences for coup-related offenses and release dozens of Bolsonaro supporters who stormed government buildings shortly after his exit from office.
Meanwhile, court documents revealed that Bolsonaro's legal team filed a request for permission to leave prison for surgery, emphasizing ongoing health concerns. Bolsonaro, who spent time in intensive care earlier this year after intestinal surgery, has previously submitted appeals for house arrest on health grounds.
The attempts to cut Bolsonaro's sentence have sparked considerable turmoil, with leftist politician Glauber Braga briefly occupying the Speaker's chair in protest against what he termed a 'coup offensive'. His removal by police amidst the debate is seen as a suppression of dissent by multiple free press advocates.
The fate of Jair Bolsonaro, a right-wing populist, continues to resonate in Brazil's polarized political arena, as proposals to amend punishments for elected officials intersect with ongoing debates about justice and accountability. As of late Tuesday night, the law aimed at reducing Bolsonaro's sentence had not passed, requiring further ratification by the legislature's second house.
