Lula Vetoes Dosimetry Bill, Senator Files Amnesty Bill

On January 8, 2026, Senator Esperidião Amin (PP-SC) officially protocolized the PL da Anistia (Amnesty Bill) in the Senate. This legislative move occurred in direct response to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) vetoing the PL da Dosimetria (Dosimetry Bill). Amin, who previously served as the rapporteur for the Dosimetry Bill, argues that the new proposal is necessary to 'pacify the country.'

The Amnesty Bill is designed to reduce the prison sentences of former President Jair Bolsonaro and other individuals convicted of coup attempts. This includes those responsible for the acts of vandalism on January 8, 2023. The filing of the bill coincided with the third anniversary of the 2023 attacks. Opposition lawmakers reacted to the President's veto by pushing for this alternative legislative measure.

The legislative landscape shifted rapidly following President Lula's decision to veto the Dosimetry Bill. Senator Esperidião Amin moved quickly to file the Amnesty Bill on the same day. As the former rapporteur of the vetoed bill, Amin is positioning this new measure as a solution to ongoing political tensions. The filing took place on Thursday, January 8, a date significant for its connection to the events of 2023.

Parliamentarians from the opposition have voiced strong reactions to the President's total veto. Their response has been the immediate presentation of the Amnesty Bill. The core objective of this new proposal is to alter the legal consequences for those involved in the January 8, 2023, vandalism. By seeking to reduce these penalties, the bill attempts to address the political fallout from the previous administration.

The Amnesty Bill proposed by Senator Amin contains specific provisions regarding sentencing. The primary goal is to lower the prison terms for Jair Bolsonaro and his co-defendants. The legislation explicitly covers the atos golpistas (coup acts), ensuring that the amnesty extends to the criminal damage caused on January 8, 2023. The bill frames these reductions as a necessary step for national reconciliation.

Senator Amin emphasized the intent to 'pacify the country' through this legislation. The bill represents a significant legislative counter-measure to the President's veto. By targeting the specific legal outcomes of the January 8 events, the proposal seeks to mitigate the judicial impact on the convicted individuals. The filing of this bill highlights the ongoing divide between the executive branch and opposition members of the Senate.

The events of January 8, 2023, remain a pivotal point of contention in Brazilian politics. The Amnesty Bill serves as a focal point for opposition forces challenging the current administration's judicial policies. President Lula's veto of the Dosimetry Bill signaled a firm stance against leniency for those convicted of the 2023 attacks. Consequently, the Senate has become the arena for this legislative battle.

The dynamic between the PT and the PP-SC factions is central to this development. Senator Amin's role as the rapporteur of the vetoed bill adds weight to his current proposal. The Amnesty Bill is not merely a legislative text but a political statement regarding the handling of the January 8 legacy. It remains to be seen how this bill will progress through the legislative process.