The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies rejected President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's veto of the PL da Dosimetria on Thursday, April 30, 2026 [1].
This legislative step is critical because the bill aims to adjust sentencing guidelines for specific crimes. If fully enacted, the law would reduce the prison sentence of former President Jair Bolsonaro, a move President Lula opposed during his veto of the measure [1], [2].
The decision now proceeds to the Senate for further consideration [1], [2]. The bill, known as the PL da Dosimetria, focuses on the recalculation of penalties to ensure sentencing consistency across the judicial system. Supporters of the measure said the adjustments are necessary for legal fairness, while opponents said the bill was a targeted effort to benefit the former president [1], [2].
President Lula had previously issued a veto on the bill, which some reports indicate occurred on April 8 [3]. Under Brazilian legislative rules, Congress has 30 days to decide the future of a bill after a presidential veto is issued [3]. The Chamber of Deputies exercised this power by voting to overturn the veto on April 30 [1], [3].
The Senate must now determine if the veto remains overturned. If the Senate agrees with the Chamber of Deputies, the bill will become law despite the president's objections. This legislative tug-of-war highlights the ongoing political tension between the current administration and the allies of the former president in Brasília [1], [2].
“The decision now proceeds to the Senate.”
The rejection of the veto by the Chamber of Deputies signals a significant legislative victory for Bolsonaro's allies. By moving the bill to the Senate, the process shifts toward a potential reduction in the former president's sentence, potentially altering the legal landscape for high-profile political crimes in Brazil.
