BRASILIA, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian Senate President Davi Alcolumbre on Friday promulgated a sentencing law that reduces penalties for people convicted over the Jan. 8, 2023 attacks on federal government buildings.
The law could benefit former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison for attempted coup.
Under Brazilian procedure, the Senate president may promulgate a law if the president does not do so within 48 hours after being officially notified by Congress of a legislative decision. The responsibility fell to Alcolumbre after Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva traveled to the United States on May 6, the day the deadline expired.
The so-called Dosimetry Law was approved by Congress in December but fully vetoed by Lula on Jan. 8. A joint session of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate overturned the veto on April 30.
The measure lowers sentences for crimes such as attempted coup and violent abolition of the democratic order.
It also allows sentence reductions of one-third to two-thirds for individuals convicted as part of a crowd, provided they were not organizers or financiers.
The law will take effect nationwide once published in the official Brazilian gazette. ■
