On December 14 and 15, 2025, the streets of Brazil’s major cities pulsed with chants, music, and banners as tens of thousands of Brazilians protested a controversial bill moving through Congress. The legislation, if passed, would dramatically reduce the prison sentence of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently serving more than 27 years for his role in plotting a coup after his defeat in the 2022 presidential election. The demonstrations, which brought together a diverse coalition of social movements, artists, and political parties, marked the first major nationwide outcry since Bolsonaro began serving his sentence last month.
According to BBC, crowds gathered in cities such as Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Salvador, and São Paulo, with an estimated 19,000 people rallying at Rio’s iconic Copacabana Beach. Among the demonstrators were Oscar-winning actor Fernanda Torres and the legendary 83-year-old singer Caetano Veloso, both lending their voices to the chorus of opposition against what many view as a dangerous precedent for Brazil’s democracy. In São Paulo alone, about 13,700 people took to the streets, while similar scenes unfolded in Brasília and other urban centers across the country.
The catalyst for these protests is the so-called PL da Dosimetria, a bill that sailed through the lower house of Congress the previous week, propelled by a conservative majority. The proposal, as described by one of its sponsors to AFP, could slash Bolsonaro’s sentence to just two years and four months—a staggering reduction from the original 27 years. The measure is now headed to the Senate for debate, with a vote expected later in the week.
Bolsonaro, whose right-wing movement has left an indelible mark on Brazil’s political landscape, is being held in a specially prepared cell at a federal police facility in the capital. His conviction, handed down by the Supreme Court in September 2025, was for proposing a coup to military leaders following his loss to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, as well as for knowing of a plot to assassinate Lula. While the coup itself never materialized, the aftermath was violent: in January 2023, Bolsonaro’s supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília, leading to thousands of detentions and widespread condemnation both at home and abroad.
The bill’s implications extend far beyond Bolsonaro himself. If enacted, it would also reduce sentences for those convicted over the 2023 attacks on government institutions. The proposed legislation would further revise parole rules, allowing prisoners to seek parole after serving one-sixth of their sentence, rather than the current one-fourth. Yet, even with a reduced sentence, Bolsonaro, now 70, would remain barred from holding public office for another three decades—a stipulation that tempers, but does not erase, the bill’s potential impact on Brazil’s political future.
As Citizen TV reported, the protests were not confined to one political camp. Demonstrators included a broad spectrum of Brazilian society, united by a shared concern that the bill represents an attempt by conservative lawmakers to soften penalties for Bolsonaro and his allies. Many see it as a direct threat to the rule of law and the hard-won gains of Brazilian democracy since the end of military dictatorship in the 1980s.
"We cannot allow those who attack democracy to go unpunished," a protester in Rio de Janeiro told BBC. The sentiment was echoed by a São Paulo demonstrator, who declared, "This bill is a slap in the face to everyone who believes in justice and accountability." The rallies, vibrant and at times festive, featured performances by artists and speeches by activists, all underscoring the stakes of the ongoing legislative battle.
The political maneuvering around the bill has been fierce. Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies, where conservatives hold sway, overwhelmingly voted in favor of the proposal. However, the bill’s journey is far from over. It must pass the Senate and then be signed by President Lula, who, according to multiple news outlets, is expected to veto it. Yet, under Brazil’s constitution, Congress can override a presidential veto—a scenario that could set the stage for a protracted legal and political showdown, possibly involving the Supreme Court.
Even as the domestic debate rages, the international dimension of Bolsonaro’s legal troubles has not gone unnoticed. In July 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a hefty 50 percent tariff on Brazilian goods, citing Bolsonaro’s trial as one of the justifications and calling it a "witch hunt." The move was met with swift condemnation from President Lula and Brazil’s Supreme Court, who decried it as an attempt to meddle in the country’s internal affairs. The episode added fuel to an already polarized environment, with some of Bolsonaro’s supporters seizing on Trump’s comments to bolster claims of political persecution.
For many Brazilians, the current crisis is the latest chapter in a saga that began with Bolsonaro’s tumultuous presidency from January 2019 to December 2022. His tenure was marked by fierce ideological battles, a reshaping of the country’s institutions, and a deepening of political divisions. The aftermath of his electoral defeat saw not only the attempted coup but also the January 2023 storming of government buildings—a moment that, for many, evoked painful memories of past authoritarianism.
Despite the intensity of the protests and the high political stakes, some observers note that the outcome remains uncertain. While President Lula’s veto is likely, the possibility of Congress overriding it looms large. Should that happen, legal experts anticipate immediate challenges in the Supreme Court, which has already played a central role in Bolsonaro’s prosecution and conviction.
Meanwhile, the streets continue to serve as a barometer of public sentiment. The sheer scale and diversity of the protests—bringing together artists, activists, and ordinary citizens—reflect a society grappling with fundamental questions about justice, accountability, and the future of its democracy. As one demonstrator in Brasília put it, "We are here to defend our country’s institutions. We cannot let history repeat itself."
With the Senate debate imminent and the prospect of further protests on the horizon, Brazil finds itself at a crossroads. The fate of the bill, and of Bolsonaro himself, hangs in the balance—watched closely not only by Brazilians but by the world at large.
In the coming days, as lawmakers, judges, and citizens weigh their options, the nation’s commitment to democratic principles will be tested once again. Whatever the outcome, the events of December 2025 have already left an unmistakable mark on Brazil’s evolving political story.
