House of Deputies approves urgency of amnesty project

The Chamber of Deputies approved, on Wednesday night (17), the urgency of the project that grants amnesty to those convicted of anti-democratic acts. There were 311 in favor, 163 against, and seven abstentions. The approval comes after months of deadlock and intense pressure from the opposition.
In practice, the measure speeds up the processing of the matter in the Chamber. Although there is still no agreement on the merit of the matter, the approval of urgency represents progress in the opposition’s articulation.
The President of the Chamber, Hugo Motta (Republicans-PB), convened a plenary session Wednesday night and included the urgency request for amnesty as the only item on the agenda. The decision came after a meeting with the party leaders of the House.
Announcing the decision through social media, Hugo Motta stated, ‘Brazil needs pacification and a future built on dialogue and respect’ and that ‘the country needs to move forward’.
‘We have different views in the House and divergent interests regarding the events of January 8, 2023. It is up to the Plenary, sovereign, to decide,’ he added.
Hugo also committed to selecting a rapporteur who will work on a substitute for the bill that finds support from the broad majority of the House. The chosen individual’s name is expected to be announced on Thursday (18).
The Amnesty Bill is supported by the opposition as a way to grant amnesty to Jair Bolsonaro (PL). Last week, the former president was sentenced by the STF (Supreme Federal Court) to more than 27 years in prison for involvement in a coup d’état plan.