A Brazilian commission on Friday voted to recommend that the attorney general file charges against President Jair Bolsonaro for “crimes against humanity,” on the day that Bolsonaro announced his intention to pardon imprisoned former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
The commission voted 12-9 in favor of recommending charges against Bolsonaro, who is also known as Jair Bolsonaro, for the nation’s human rights abuses under the dictatorship of the 1970s and 80s. The recommendation now goes to the Senate, which can take as long as 30 days to rule on the request. Should the Supreme Court agree to accept the recommendation, the court would then take Bolsonaro up on his offer to pardon Lula, which was made after Brazil’s own presidential election. The pardoning of Lula — who is facing 12 separate corruption trials — had the support of the majority of members of Brazil’s congress, though some analysts warned that Bolsonaro, who took office in January, may see his post-election reputation decline if the president is charged in international courts.
The prime minister’s office said in a statement that the commission vote “reveals the logic that has allowed the political forces who want to tear the constitution and the nation apart [to] impose through force whatever they want in the country,” according to The Guardian.
Earlier this week, Bolsonaro said that Lula’s release would not be a concern for the president, who is under increasing pressure from both the opposition and Brazilian voters alike over his views on women, political opponents and gay people.
Read the full story at The Guardian.
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