Brazilian Judge Halts Law That Could Slash Bolsonaro’s 27‑Year Sentence

*TL;DR: Justice Alexandre de Moraes blocked a law that would have allowed former President Jair Bolsonaro to seek a reduced prison term, leaving his 27‑year sentence intact while the Supreme Court reviews the law’s constitutionality.

Context Former President Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in September for his role in a plot to overturn the 2022 election results. The conviction sparked a political firestorm, with Bolsonaro’s supporters branding the verdict a “miscarriage of justice.” In December, Brazil’s conservative‑majority Congress passed a law that would let convicted officials apply for sentence reductions, a move President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva vetoed in January. Congress later overrode the veto, prompting legal challenges.

Key Facts - On Saturday, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the suspension of the new law until the Court can hold a full hearing on its constitutionality. - The suspension means any individual request for a reduced term, including those filed by Bolsonaro’s legal team, is on hold. - Bolsonaro’s lawyers filed a fresh appeal, reiterating that his conviction is a “miscarriage of justice” and asking the Court to overturn the sentence. - The law required each convicted person to submit a separate petition for a sentence cut, a procedural hurdle that the suspension now preserves.

What It Means The judge’s decision keeps Bolsonaro behind bars for the full 27 years while the Supreme Court evaluates whether the Congress‑passed law violates Brazil’s constitution. If the Court upholds the law, future petitions could still be filed, but any reduction would depend on a separate judicial review. For now, the ruling signals that Brazil’s highest court is unwilling to allow a quick legislative shortcut to alter a high‑profile criminal sentence.

Looking Ahead Watch for the Supreme Court’s full hearing on the law’s constitutionality and any subsequent rulings that could reshape the legal landscape for political figures convicted of crimes in Brazil.