Brazilians vote for new Congress that could grant amnesty to Jair Bolsonaro

Brazilian voters are electing a new Congress that could be positioned to grant amnesty to former President Jair Bolsonaro, as the country heads toward a presidential runoff later this month between incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of the former president.

Polls and early indications suggest the incoming Congress could lean conservative, raising the possibility that lawmakers sympathetic to Jair Bolsonaro could pursue legislation to pardon him. The former president has faced legal proceedings tied to his conduct during and after his time in office, including scrutiny of actions following his 2022 election defeat to Lula.

The presidential race is set to be decided in a runoff scheduled for October 25, pitting Lula against Flavio Bolsonaro, who has sought to carry forward his father's political movement. The outcome of the congressional elections could significantly shape the political environment either candidate would govern within after the runoff.

Jair Bolsonaro's legal troubles have remained a central issue in Brazilian politics since he left office, with his supporters arguing that proceedings against him are politically motivated, while critics maintain that accountability for his actions is essential to Brazilian democracy. A more conservative Congress could revive legislative efforts to shield him from the consequences of those proceedings.

The combination of the congressional vote and the approaching presidential runoff underscores how deeply Jair Bolsonaro's political legacy continues to shape Brazil's electoral landscape, even as he does not appear on the ballot himself this cycle. Final results of the congressional elections and their implications for any amnesty effort are expected to become clearer in the weeks following the vote.