On December 14, 2025, the streets of Brazil’s largest cities pulsed with energy and indignation as tens of thousands of citizens rallied against a controversial legislative proposal that could sharply reduce the prison sentence of former President Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters. The so-called Dosimetry Bill, which passed the lower house of Congress just days earlier, has ignited a fierce debate over democracy, accountability, and the future of Brazilian politics.
From the sun-drenched boardwalks of Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro to the bustling Paulista Avenue in São Paulo, protesters voiced their outrage at what many described as a “disguised amnesty” for those convicted of attempting to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election. According to Reuters, about 15,000 demonstrators gathered in São Paulo—fewer than a similar protest three months prior—while an estimated 20,000 filled Copacabana Beach, their chants echoing along the Atlantic coast. In cities like Brasilia, Florianopolis, Salvador, and Recife, the message was unmistakable: Congress, in the eyes of many, was betraying the people’s trust.
The catalyst for this wave of mobilization was the lower house’s approval, on December 10, of a bill that would slash Bolsonaro’s prison sentence from more than 27 years to just over two years, after which he could transition to house arrest. The legislation, as reported by the Associated Press, would require that the sentences for two of Bolsonaro’s convictions—attempting a coup and violent overthrow of the rule of law—run concurrently rather than consecutively. It would also lower the threshold for parole, allowing release to day parole after serving just one-sixth of a sentence, down from one-fourth.
Bolsonaro, now 70, was convicted by Brazil’s Supreme Court in September 2025 for leading a criminal organization behind the January 8, 2023, insurrection. That day, his supporters stormed government buildings in Brasilia in a failed attempt to prevent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who had narrowly defeated Bolsonaro in the 2022 election, from taking office. The Supreme Court’s decision marked a historic first: never before had Brazil punished military officers and a former president for such an attack on democracy. Bolsonaro began serving his sentence in November in a specially prepared cell at a federal police facility in the capital.
But the Dosimetry Bill’s reach extends beyond Bolsonaro. It would also reduce sentences for hundreds of his supporters convicted for their roles in the 2023 riot, a move that protesters and civil society groups say would undermine the rule of law. “All of them are paying for their crimes,” teacher Claudio Pfeil told Reuters from the Rio demonstration. “We won’t accept even a centimeter of retreat.”
Public figures and artists lent their voices—and their star power—to the cause. Legendary musicians Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil performed in Rio, their presence galvanizing the crowd. Chico César, another prominent singer, took the stage in São Paulo and didn’t mince words: “People are taking to the streets to say Congress cannot do whatever it wants. The people are vigilant. Participatory democracy is exactly this: the power of the streets.” Zélia Duncan, also performing, urged Brazilians to “speak out, take to the streets, and next year vote wisely. Please think carefully before voting. Let’s stand together. Brazil belongs to the people. Let’s show these enemies of the people that the people are watching.”
Politicians and activists echoed these sentiments. Left-wing lawmakers Erika Hilton and Ediane Maria joined the Paulista Avenue protest, while former Workers’ Party president José Genoíno declared, “Here we decide the defeat of the dosimetry bill. Here we defeat backroom deals. Here we confront an ongoing coup. This protest signals that organized people in the streets are entering the political arena as a new force.”
The demonstrations weren’t limited to Brazil’s borders. Protests erupted in at least 14 state capitals, from Belém to Porto Alegre, and even reached cities in Portugal and Spain, organized by Brazilian expatriate communities. The message was global: the fight for democracy in Brazil resonates beyond its shores.
Inside Congress, tensions ran high as the bill was debated and passed. According to Brasil de Fato, the session on December 10 was marred by violence and repression. Lawmaker Glauber Braga was forcibly removed after denouncing the bill and resisting a vote on the revocation of his own mandate. “My presence at the speaker’s table was to show that we cannot give in,” Braga said. “Tomorrow there will be a vote on my removal. They may strip my mandate, but until the last minute I will fight, not for myself, but to prevent them from attacking democratic freedoms.” During the session, the TV Câmara broadcast was cut—a move without precedent since Brazil’s return to democracy, further fueling suspicions of backroom dealings and eroding public trust.
The bill’s sponsor, Paulinho da Força, has framed it as a measure aimed at national reconciliation. He argues that reducing sentences could help heal the country’s deep political wounds. But critics are unconvinced. “It’s an attempt to protect those who tried to attempt a coup,” said Antonio Edson Lima de Oliveira, a geologist protesting in Rio, as quoted by the Associated Press. “Brazil has already had several dictatorships and they were awful for the country. We never want it to happen again.”
President Lula, who plans to run for reelection in 2026, has signaled his intention to veto the bill if it reaches his desk after Senate consideration. “I will only decide whether to sign or veto the Dosimetry Bill once it reaches the presidential palace,” Lula stated this week, as reported by Brasil de Fato. However, Congress could override a presidential veto—a scenario that could spark fresh legal battles in the Supreme Court and further unrest on the streets.
The Dosimetry Bill’s passage comes on the heels of other mass mobilizations, including the Mulheres Vivas uprising, which saw thousands protest gender-based violence and high femicide rates across Brazil. The current wave of demonstrations, though, has united a broad swath of society—artists, politicians, students, and ordinary citizens—in defense of democratic principles. Many carried signs declaring “Congress is the enemy of the people,” a reflection of the growing divide between lawmakers and the electorate.
The international dimension of the crisis has not gone unnoticed. Earlier this year, U.S.-Brazil relations were strained when then-U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Brazilian goods, citing Bolsonaro’s trial as a “witch hunt.” Relations have since improved, with tariffs lifted and sanctions removed from Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who led the trial against Bolsonaro.
As the Senate prepares to debate the Dosimetry Bill, the outcome remains uncertain. Political analyst Luciana Santana, speaking to the Associated Press, noted that “the composition of the Senate, the mobilizations and the fact that the vote in the lower house took place in the early hours of the morning mean the environment in favor of the bill is not as favorable as it was in the lower house.”
For now, Brazil stands at a crossroads. The coming weeks will test the resilience of its democracy, the resolve of its citizens, and the ability of its institutions to balance justice and reconciliation. Whatever happens next, it’s clear that the power of the streets—and the vigilance of the people—will play a decisive role in shaping the country’s future.
