Brazil's Lula vows to veto bill that could reduce Bolsonaro's prison sentence

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Thursday he will veto a bill that could significantly reduce the 27-year prison sentence of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was arrested in November for attempting a coup.

The Senate passed the bill late Wednesday, following approval by the Chamber of Deputies.

“With all due respect to the National Congress, when it reaches my desk, I will veto it," Lula told journalists in Brasilia, noting that those who committed crimes against Brazilian democracy “will have to pay for their acts.”

The text is also expected to be challenged at the Supreme Court.

The bill reduces the final sentences of defendants convicted under multiple charges stemming from the coup attempt, including Bolsonaro.

The former president’s lawyers appealed to the Supreme Court after his conviction, saying his prison term was excessive. They also argued that the sentences for abolishing the rule of law and attempting a coup should not be added because they arose from a single episode.

The proposed law would speed up sentence progression from harsher to more lenient prison regimes for those convicted.

There is no consensus on how much time Bolsonaro would actually serve if the bill takes effect. Under current rules, the former president could move to a less restrictive prison system after 7 years if he met legal requirements while incarcerated.

Paulinho da Força, the bill’s rapporteur in the Chamber of Deputies, has estimated that period could be cut to just over two years if the law passes.

The bill would also allow sentence reductions of up to two-thirds for crimes committed in a crowd, benefiting defendants convicted of storming public buildings during the Jan. 8, 2023, insurrection in Brasilia.

Under the bill, those who did not finance or lead the actions could receive reductions ranging from one-third to two-thirds.

Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of the former president and a prospective presidential candidate in next year’s election, praised fellow lawmakers for approving the bill, calling it a “first step.”

“There shouldn’t even be a debate about amnesty, but about annulling the farce that the entire process was,” he said.

Sen. Bolsonaro is expected to challenge Lula, who is seeking a fourth nonconsecutive term, as the candidate of Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party in the 2026 presidential race.

On Sunday, tens of thousands of Brazilians protested against the bill. Demonstrations took place in the capital Brasilia and in other major cities across the country, including Sao Paulo, Florianopolis, Salvador and Recife.

Follow the AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a year-end press conference at Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a year-end press conference at Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva takes a sip of coffee during a year-end press conference at Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a year-end press conference at Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro points to his electronic ankle monitor that the Supreme Court ordered him to wear, at Congress in Brasilia, Brazil, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Minervino Junior, CB/D.A Press, File)

SHANGHAI (AP) — Formula 1 champion Lando Norris and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri were both unable to start the Chinese Grand Prix after hitting technical problems minutes before the race began.

Piastri was due to start fifth and Norris sixth for Sunday's race. Norris was in his car in the pits but didn't leave for the grid, before Piastri was then withdrawn from the grid following a radio message which indicated an electrical issue.

“Unfortunately we identified separate issues on both cars which prevented them from starting the Chinese GP, with Oscar’s being removed from the grid shortly before the formation lap. We will now work to identify each issue,” McLaren said.

It's the second time Piastri has failed to start in 2026 after he crashed before the start of last week's race in Australia.

Kimi Antonelli was seeking to convert his record-breaking pole position into a first career win but will have to stay ahead of his Mercedes teammate George Russell.

Antonelli became the youngest driver to qualify on pole position for an F1 Grand Prix race Saturday. The 19-year-old Italian starts on the front row alongside Russell, who recovered from technical problems to post the second-fastest time.

They're looking to continue Mercedes dominance in F1's new era of regulations after Russell won last week's Australian Grand Prix and the sprint race in China on Saturday.

Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari briefly got ahead of Antonelli at the start but the Italian took the place back soon after.

F1 is racing hours after it announced next month's races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will not go ahead because of the war in the Middle East.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car ahead of others during the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix race at the Shanghai International Circuit, in Shanghai, China, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy gestures during the drivers parade ahead of the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix race at the Shanghai International Circuit, in Shanghai, China, Sunday, March 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)