Lula Blocks Law to Free Jair Bolsonaro from Prison

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has vetoed a bill that would have shortened the prison sentence of his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro. Lula announced the decision on Tuesday, the one-year anniversary of the 2023 riots in Brasília. On that date, thousands of Bolsonaro's supporters stormed government buildings after refusing to accept his election loss. The former far-right leader is currently serving a jail term. Brazil's highest court convicted him for his role in attempting a coup to stay in power. The proposed law would have reduced prison time for certain crimes. Legal experts say it would have directly benefited Bolsonaro, potentially allowing his early release. President Lula rejected the bill in full, calling it unconstitutional. With the veto, Bolsonaro will continue to serve his sentence. The Brazilian Congress could still override the veto, but this is considered politically unlikely.