Brazil's Controversial Bill: Bolsonaro's Potential Sentence Reduction

Brazil's lower house has passed a bill potentially reducing former President Jair Bolsonaro's prison term to a little over two years, pending Senate approval. Imprisoned for a coup plot after losing the 2022 election, Bolsonaro's lawyers seek hospital transfer for surgery and humanitarian house arrest.

Brazil's lower house approved a bill on Wednesday that could significantly reduce former President Jair Bolsonaro's prison sentence, potentially trimming it to just over two years. The Senate's endorsement is still required for the measure to pass.

Bolsonaro, currently serving a 27-year sentence for an attempted coup following his 2022 election loss, is detained at a Federal Police Superintendency in Brasilia. The bill's progress has not yet been officially confirmed, as Brazilian authorities did not promptly respond to requests for comment.

In addition to seeking a sentence reduction, Bolsonaro's defense team has been pushing for his transfer to a hospital due to needed surgical procedures. They have also renewed their plea for the right-wing leader to serve his term under humanitarian house arrest.

(With inputs from agencies.)