In a significant defeat for Lula, Brazil’s National Congress decisively voted on Tuesday to end temporary prisoner releases. These releases previously allowed prisoners to visit families or engage in social activities. Initially reinstated by a veto from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Congress successfully overturned this decision. Now part of Law 14.843 of 2024, the vetoed sections originally came from Bill 2.253/2022 approved by the Senate in February. The government claimed the banned releases were unconstitutional because they harmed families and compromised the state’s protective role.
However, with the veto now overturned, temporary releases are limited to inmates in semi-open regimes strictly for educational purposes. The decision highlights debates balancing public safety with the goal of rehabilitating prisoners and giving them another chance. A Genial/Quaest poll conducted in May 2024 shows declining support for President Lula among Brazilian deputies. Discontent is rising; 42% now disapprove of Lula’s administration, up 9 points from August 2023.
Support for Lula dropped from 35% to 32%, while neutral opinions also fell. Only 1% of deputies were undecided, emphasizing a decisive shift in perception.