Senator Hamilton Mourão (Republicanos-RS) demanded that the Supreme Federal Court decide on the sentences of individuals convicted for the Jan. 8, 2023 attacks [1].
The request highlights the ongoing tension between Brazil's judicial branch and political factions seeking leniency for those involved in the 2023 unrest. A resolution on these sentences is seen by some as a prerequisite for stabilizing the country's polarized political climate.
Speaking in the Senate plenary in Brasília on April 17, 2026 [2], Mourão said that the delay from the Supreme Federal Court hinders national pacification [3]. He said that granting amnesty to the convicted parties would be the most effective way to achieve a peaceful national state [3].
Mourão noted that 60 days have elapsed since a veto was overturned without a corresponding decision from the court [4]. The senator, who previously served as vice president, said that the legal uncertainty surrounding the convicts continues to impact the political landscape — a situation he believes the court must address immediately [3].
The convictions stem from the attacks on government buildings that occurred on Jan. 8, 2023 [1]. While the judiciary has pursued strict sentencing for the events, Mourão's call for amnesty aligns with a broader movement among some legislators to reduce penalties for the participants [3].
Throughout his address, Mourão said that the judicial process must reach a conclusion to allow the country to move forward. He said the current stalemate prevents the realization of true national pacification [3].
“An amnesty would be the best way to achieve national pacification.”
This demand reflects a strategic push by right-wing legislators to transition from judicial accountability to political reconciliation. By framing amnesty as 'pacification,' Mourão is attempting to shift the narrative of the Jan. 8 attacks from criminal insurgency to a political disagreement that can be resolved through legislative grace rather than court mandates.
