PL President Valdemar Costa Neto defends amnesty for January 8 convicts

Valdemar Costa Neto, president of the Liberal Party (PL), has advocated for amnesty for those convicted in connection with the January 8 attacks in Brazil. During a radio interview, Costa Neto argued that discussing or planning a coup should not be considered a crime if the attempt is not executed.

Costa Neto confirmed that discussions regarding a coup occurred at the end of Jair Bolsonaro’s administration in 2022, stating, “There is no doubt” that such discussions took place. However, he maintained that since no coup was carried out, there should be no criminal punishment. He suggested that the legal consequences currently faced by Bolsonaro serve as a deterrent against future attempts.

Currently, 1,402 people have been convicted for crimes related to the January 8 events and the attempted coup. Investigations by the Federal Police have identified a plan known as “Punhal Verde e Amarelo,” which allegedly involved plots to assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Minister Alexandre de Moraes to prevent the 2022 election results from being upheld.