Nationwide Protests Press Senate Over ‘Dosimetry’ Bill Seen Easing Jan. 8 Sentences

Overview

• Demonstrations filled streets in dozens of cities, including Copacabana and Avenida Paulista, with chants of “Sem anistia” and sharp criticism of Chamber president Hugo Motta and Congress.
• The measure, approved by the Chamber on Dec. 10, heads to the Senate’s Constitution and Justice Committee before a possible same-day plenary vote that leadership wants concluded this year.
• The proposal bars adding penalties for the crimes of coup d’état and violent abolition of the democratic state when committed in the same context and shortens the minimum time for prison‑regime progression from one quarter to one sixth.
• Bill authors and relators say the changes could cut Jair Bolsonaro’s time in a closed regime to roughly two to two and a half years, a projection fueling the backlash reported at the rallies.
• Artists such as Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Chico Buarque joined unions and left parties in organizing the actions, while the presidency has signaled a possible veto if the final text materially benefits coup leaders.