Brazil's Senate passed a bill to slash the prison term of far-right ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, who was convicted of plotting a coup after losing re-election to left-winger Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Brazil’s Senate passed a bill that could drastically reduce former President Jair Bolsonaro’s 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup, potentially cutting his time behind bars to just over two years. The bill, already approved by the lower chamber, now goes to President Lula, who may veto it, though Congress could override.

BRASILIA, Dec 18 - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday said he will veto a bill passed by the country's Congress to cut former President Jair Bolsonaro's 27-year prison sentence for plotting a ‍coup ​and also told journalists he wanted to reduce tensions between the ‍United States and Venezuela.   Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Brazil's Senate approved a bill that reduces sentences for those convicted of coup-related crimes, which could benefit former President Jair Bolsonaro and others convicted over the Jan. 8, 2023, attack on government buildings in the capital a week after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office.