The Chamber approves the urgent amnesty bill

In a lightning vote, the Chamber of Deputies approved an urgent request on Wednesday, the 17th, to expedite the processing of amnesty for those convicted of coup plots. The vote was 311 in favor, 163 against, and 7 abstentions, in an extraordinary session marked by riots and protests from left-wing deputies.

The bill, which was expedited, was authored by Congressman Marcelo Crivella ( Republicans-RJ ) in 2023. The bill provides for amnesty for those involved in anti-democratic acts starting October 30, 2022, when Bolsonaro supporters blocked highways following the then-president's electoral defeat. The rapporteur has not yet been determined.

Crivella's bill also waives fines imposed by the Electoral Court and includes any measures restricting rights, including those imposed by preliminary decisions and final or final judgments (when no further appeals are possible) that "limit freedom of expression and demonstration of a political or electoral nature."

The bill already had a rapporteur, Rodrigo Valadares (União-SE), who drafted an opinion on a bill that was attached to Crivella's. However, House Speaker Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB) separated the two bills and will appoint a new rapporteur (rumored to be from the PP or Republicanos parties). Pro-Bolsonaro deputies even advocated for Valadares's permanence, but their demand is unlikely to be met due to his radical stance.

The urgent vote was decided in a meeting with the Chamber's leaders. Shortly after the Board of Directors called a session for 8:30 p.m., the Speaker of the House took to social media to declare that Brazil needs "pacification" and argue that the final decision on the amnesty should lie with the plenary, due to the "distinct views and divergent interests" among his colleagues.

The request for urgency came from Rodrigo Gambale (SP), leader of Podemos. He is also supported by representatives of the Republicans, União Brasil, PP, PL, and the PSDB/Cidadania federation.

With Bolsonaro's conviction by the Supreme Federal Court last week, pressure from Bolsonaro supporters to put the issue on the agenda increased. Furthermore, the Centrão (Brazilian Center) and São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas began lobbying for the proposal's approval , hoping the former president would endorse the São Paulo state executive's presidential candidacy .

In Motta's circle, some consider the decision to schedule the matter as urgent this Wednesday as a way of "signaling attention" to the opposition, while simultaneously pushing forward the discussion of the merits to avoid a direct clash with the Supreme Court and the Planalto Palace.

After the vote, Motta stated that Brazil needs "pacification" and that he has no intention of rewriting the past, but rather of "allowing the present to be reconciled and the future to be built on the basis of dialogue and respect." "There are urgent issues ahead, and the country needs to move forward," he continued. "We have different views and divergent interests in the House regarding the events of January 8, 2023. It is in the plenary that ideas clash and democracy pulses with full force."

Despite being informed that the issue would have to be addressed in the plenary, members of Lula's administration viewed Motta's gesture with reservations. On social media, Minister Gleisi Hoffmann (Workers' Party) stated that the issue is not a priority. "Far from paving the way for any peace, it would be an affront to the Judiciary and the country's democratic conscience," she wrote.

Earlier, President Lula told BBC News that he would veto any amnesty bill for Bolsonaro that might be approved by Congress.