Brazil's Moraes Suspends Application of Law That Could Cut Bolsonaro's Prison Term

Is this a victory for democracy or a dangerous blow to separation of powers?

Published 1 day ago

Brazil's Moraes Suspends Application of Law That Could Cut Bolsonaro's Prison Term

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Above: Brazil's Alexandre de Moraes on Feb. 25. Image credit: Sergio Lima/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-government narrative

Suspending this law was the right call. Letting Congress quietly rewrite sentencing rules to benefit Jan. 8 convicts was a disguised amnesty that directly undermined constitutional protections for democracy, and no legislative maneuver can override that. The full Supreme Court will settle this and the outcome will favor the rule of law.

Brasil 247

Lindbergh Farias on X

Government-critical narrative

A single judge wiping out a law is a serious threat to Brazil's separation of powers. Congress debated, voted, overrode a presidential veto and promulgated the so-called Dosimetry Law, all through legitimate democratic process. It's outrageous that one unelected official can cancel the will of millions of Brazilians. This sets a dangerous precedent that cannot be normalized.

Flavio Bolsonaro on X

Nikolas Ferreira on X