The US Under Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, expressed this Thursday his concern over Brazil's "attempts" to "use the legal process for political purposes" and celebrated the approval of a bill in the Chamber of Deputies that seeks to reduce the sentence of former President Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022) as a "first step" to address these abuses.
Landau emphasized, on his official X account, that the United States sees in this approval an opportunity to improve bilateral relations, reinforcing the importance of judicial independence and respect for the rule of law as pillars of democracy. "Finally, we are seeing the beginning of a path toward improving our relations," stated the official.
The Chamber of Deputies of Brazil approved in the early morning of Wednesday a bill that seeks to reduce the sentences of the far-right former president (2019-2022), sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison, and other participants in the coup acts that occurred after the 2022 elections.
The measure has generated criticism both inside and outside Brazil, as it is perceived as a possible political use of justice.
The project, which could allow Bolsonaro to leave prison in a closed regime in a little over two years, will be put to a vote in the Senate and, if approved, will go to the Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who will decide whether to veto it or not.
"Now what needs to be done is to let the Legislative Branch pronounce itself. When it reaches the Executive's desk, I will make my decision," Lula stated this Thursday in an interview with TV Alterosa, in the state of Minas Gerais.
The debates about judicial reforms have sparked citizen protests and concern from international organizations about the solidity of democratic institutions in Brazil.
The United States has been closely monitoring the situation in this South American country, reiterating its commitment to democratic stability in the region and the need for justice not to be used for political purposes, at a time when the 2026 elections are approaching and polarization continues to mark the national political agenda.
