Thousands of Brazilians demonstrated across major cities on Sunday to oppose a bill approved by the Chamber of Deputies that could reduce sentences for those involved in the January 8, 2023 coup attempt and potentially benefit convicted former President Jair Bolsonaro.
The protests were organized by the Workers’ Party (PT, in Portuguese), the Popular Brazil Front, the Fearless People movement, labor union federations, and other social organizations, which described the legislation as part of a broader right-wing push within the National Congress.
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Demonstrators marched under slogans such as “Congress, enemy of the people” and “No amnesty for the coup plotters”, demanding that the bill not advance to debate in the Senate.
Multidão ocupa a Orla de Copacabana em defesa da democracia. 🇧🇷🚩✊🏽 pic.twitter.com/a3J4TcmQgf
— PT Brasil (@ptbrasil) December 14, 2025
The Dosimetry Bill
The mobilizations followed the early-morning passage on Wednesday of the so-called Dosimetry Bill, approved by a conservative majority in the lower chamber.
The legislation alters sentencing criteria for crimes against the democratic rule of law, a change that could significantly shorten prison terms for those convicted over the attempted coup.
Organizers argue the bill represents a direct threat to democracy and an effort to guarantee impunity for Bolsonaro and other figures implicated in the January 2023 events.
The proposal now moves to the Senate, where, if passed, it could allow Bolsonaro to qualify for a less restrictive prison regime in a considerably shorter timeframe, according to social organizations and political analysts.
📌 Millions of Brazilians took to the streets this Sunday in more than 50 cities to condemn the decisions of Congress that:
🔴 Reduced sentences for Bolsonaro and the January 8th coup plotters
🔴 Overruled Lula’s vetoes and approved the environmental “devastation law.”
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) December 14, 2025
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