Brazilians rally agains soften punishment for former president Bolsonaro

Thousands of Brazilians on Sunday protested in major cities against a legislative effort to lower the jail sentence of former President Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters for plotting to overthrow democracy after he lost his 2022 reelection bid.



The demonstrations, organized by social groups, artists, and political parties, denounced lawmakers for trying to soften the punishment for the former president, who was convicted in September to 27 years in jail, and for his supporters who stormed government buildings following his defeat.



It was the first major demonstration since Bolsonaro, whose far-right movement reshaped Brazilian politics, started serving his prison sentence last month in a cell that was made for him at a federal police building in Brasilia, the capital.



According to researchers from the University of Sao Paulo, about 15,000 people gathered in Sao Paulo, Brazil's biggest city – a smaller showing than a similar protest in September.



Last week, a conservative majority in the lower house of Congress voted to pass a bill that could cut Bolsonaro's sentence to just over two years, according to its sponsor.



The bill still needs to be considered by the Senate.