The President of Brazil signed the law but vetoed key provisions

• Lula vetoed 63 out of 398 provisions of the law on deforestation.
• Ecologists support the veto, but call for active civil society actions.
• The possibility of accelerated licensing for strategic projects has been left intact.

The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, signed the supportive law, known as the "law on deforestation," but vetoed 63 out of 398 provisions that could have destroyed the ecological licensing system in the country. This decision was announced on August 8, 2025, the last day when the president could either sign or veto the law.

The bill, passed by Congress last month, is considered the biggest setback in the protection of the environment in the last 40 years. Environmental activists have called on the president to withdraw the law, but many of them have also urged civil society to pressure lawmakers to confirm the veto.

Lula does not have a majority in Congress, where his opponents often unite with the right-wing parties for the passage of conservative laws. Ministers Lula expressed their full support in the government position, emphasizing the importance of preserving ecological licenses.

Among the provisions that were vetoed are those that would allow projects with "medium" environmental impact to obtain licenses without prior studies. However, the president left the possibility for accelerated licensing of "strategic" projects, which triggered outrage among ecologists.

Environmental groups, such as SOS Mata Atlântica, welcomed the veto, but stated that they would conduct a detailed analysis of both the vetoed and remaining provisions to continue mobilizing civil society and ensure support for the achievements.

Tags: Politics/Ecology