Thousands march in Brazil against bill reducing Bolsonaro sentence

Tens of thousands of people marched in cities across Brazil on Sunday to voice opposition to a bill that would reduce the prison sentence of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, convicted of plotting a coup.

Under the bill, which the Senate will consider on Wednesday, Bolsonaro could be granted parole just over two years into his 27-year sentence.

The marches were called by left-wing groups and activists, including iconic singer Caetano Veloso, after the conservative-controlled lower chamber of Congress passed the measure early Wednesday morning.

The far-right Bolsonaro was imprisoned in November after his conviction for a scheme to stop President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office after the 2022 election.