Rio de Janeiro, 22 September 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of several Brazilian cities on Sunday to oppose a proposed amnesty law that could benefit former president Jair Bolsonaro.

On Sept. 11, the 70-year-old was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison for an attempted coup following his 2022 election defeat.

According to estimates reported by local media, more than 40,000 people took part in protests in the major cities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Law proposals range from granting amnesty to participants in post-election political demonstrations to reducing sentences for those already convicted. Whether the plans will go ahead remains uncertain, and no final draft has been presented yet. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has already signalled he could veto such legislation.

Protesters also voiced opposition to a plan, known popularly as the "Bandits' Bill," which would shield lawmakers and senators from prosecution.

At the demonstration on Copacabana Beach in Rio, renowned Brazilian musicians Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil and Chico Buarque also joined in.

The right-wing former president is currently under house arrest. His legal team has announced plans to appeal his conviction. At the same time, Bolsonaro's supporters in Parliament are pushing to fast-track an amnesty that could benefit him and his allies.

On Jan. 8, 2023, Bolsonaro supporters stormed Congress, the Supreme Federal Court and the presidential palace in Brasília. Although the former president was in the United States that day, Brazil's Supreme Federal Court held him indirectly responsible for the events.

His lawyers denied the allegations throughout the proceedings.

Brazil remains deeply polarized between Lula supporters and backers of his right-wing predecessor, Bolsonaro. Some view the criminal proceedings as politically motivated, while others see them as a demonstration of institutional strength.

Experts have warned that the weeks following Bolsonaro's verdict could be marked by protests.