Brazil's Congress fast-tracks amnesty bill that could include Bolsonaro
ReutersSEP 19
Brazil: Lower House to Vote 'Amnesty Bill' for Coup Convicts Next Week
Above: Brazil's lower house Speaker Hugo Motta on Feb. 1, 2025. Image copyright: Evaristo Sa/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Left narrative
A majority of Brazilians oppose pardoning the former president, and amnesty would seriously violate constitutional democratic principles. Moreover, an amnesty to coup plotters would perpetuate Brazil's historical pattern of impunity that has long plagued the country, encouraging future military interventionism and anti-democratic actions.
Right narrative
It's a matter of fact that the Brazilian Supreme Court has violated the fundamental rights of people who participated in legitimate demonstrations in Brazil. Under these circumstances, a broad amnesty is the only way to correct injustices stemming from its disproportionate sentences and judicial persecution against Bolsonaro supporters, allies and the former president himself.