Brazilians Protest Bill Boosting Lawmakers’ Immunity Amid Bolsonaro Amnesty Push
Brazilians Protest Bill Boosting Lawmakers’ Immunity Amid Bolsonaro Amnesty Push
Thousands of Brazilians flooded the streets on Sunday to protest a controversial bill in Congress seeking to expand lawmakers’ immunity from prosecution and potentially grant amnesty to former president Jair Bolsonaro, who was recently convicted of attempting to stage a coup.
The demonstrations, held in more than a dozen cities, reflected mounting public anger at what critics describe as a legislative attempt to shield politicians from accountability while the country faces pressing social and economic challenges.
In Rio de Janeiro, the protests drew massive crowds to Copacabana beach, where legendary musicians Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, and Chico Buarque all in their 80s—performed in a symbolic concert denouncing the bill and expressing solidarity with democratic institutions.
Bolsonaro, who remains a polarizing figure in Brazilian politics, was sentenced to 27 years in prison earlier this year after being found guilty of plotting to overturn the 2022 election results. His supporters in Congress, which is dominated by conservatives, have been pushing for a legislative amnesty that could erase his conviction and pave the way for his political comeback.
Opposition leaders and civil society groups warn that the immunity bill would erode the rule of law, entrench corruption, and deepen Brazil’s political crisis. “This is not about protecting democracy it’s about protecting themselves,” said protester Ana Paula Ferreira in São Paulo.
The government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has not yet commented officially on the immunity proposal, but analysts say the protests underscore widespread resistance to any move that could undermine judicial independence or revive Bolsonaro’s influence.
With pressure mounting from both domestic and international observers, the coming weeks are expected to be decisive in determining whether Congress advances the controversial legislation or bows to public outcry.
