Around 3,000 supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the Congress, Presidential Palace, and Supreme Court in Brasilia on Sunday.
Brasilia’s Governor, Ibaneis Rocha, revealed that 400 people were arrested, vowing that those arrested “will pay for the crimes committed.”
Bolsonarista terrorists broke down the police barrier and invaded the Congress ramp and threatened to occupy the chamber and the Senate. The Minister of Justice @FlavioDino announced that he is allowing the use of all federal forces against them.pic.twitter.com/Q3nbRhjfpV
— Nathália Urban (@UrbanNathalia) January 8, 2023
Local TV news channels in Brazil showed protesters on the Congress building’s roof, breaking some of its glass windows and doors, damaging furniture, and flooding parts of the building with the sprinkler system. Though the Congress was not in session, the demonstrators reportedly threatened employees trying to block their entry into the building. Furthermore, they destroyed furniture in the Presidential Palace and the Supreme Court building in a protest that lasted over three hours.
OCTOBER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION’S RESULT
Ever since Bolsonaro lost to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in October in Brazil’s closest presidential race, his supporters continued to hold protests outside military bases, blocking highways, and setting trucks ablaze in 20 cities across the country. Bolsonaro defended their actions, saying it was due to a sense of “indignation” and “a feeling of injustice.”
Following his defeat, Bolsonaro did not explicitly concede but did ask his administration to begin the transition process. In fact, in his first public remarks since losing the election, he said he has “always respected the framework of the constitution” and will “continue” to do so, in what was interpreted as a concession of defeat.
The Bolsonaristas have now invaded the floor of the Federal Senate, and the Supreme Court. And The Bolsonarista insurrectionists are just ransacking the Supreme Court. January 8th 2023 a day now never to be forgotten by Brazil. pic.twitter.com/7tTX0Av0pG
— Dr. Jennifer Cassidy (@OxfordDiplomat) January 8, 2023
Meanwhile, Lula vowed to work together with all Brazilians to live “democratically and harmoniously.” “I will govern for 215 million Brazilians, and not just for those who voted for me. There are not two Brazils, we are a single country, a single people, a great nation,” he underscored.
Referring to Bolsonaro’s term as one that divided Brazil and sowed discord among citizens, Lula said that no Brazilian wants to live in “a permanent state of war.” He stated that Brazilians need “peace and unity” more than anything else, arguing, “It’s time to lay down the weapons that should never have been wielded, guns kill, and we choose life.”
Lula se pronuncia sobre atos antidemocráticos https://t.co/yQxBzejADs
— Lula (@LulaOficial) January 8, 2023
LULA’S COMMENTS ON THE PROTEST
During the attack on the government buildings on Sunday, Lula, who took office earlier this month, was in Sao Paulo. In a press conference, he stated, “These vandals, who we could call [...] fanatical fascists, did what has never been done in the history of this country,” vowing that “all these people who did this will be found and they will be punished.”
Lula additionally declared a federal security intervention in Brasilia till the end of the month, accusing Bolsonaro of “encouraging” the protests. “Everybody knows there are various speeches of the ex-president encouraging this,” he stated.
Lula’s allies, too, raised concerns about Brasilia’s security forces’ ability to quell the protests, especially when the demonstrators had been planning such a rally on social media for days.
- No mais, repudio as acusações, sem provas, a mim atribuídas por parte do atual chefe do executivo do Brasil.
— Jair M. Bolsonaro 2️⃣2️⃣ (@jairbolsonaro) January 9, 2023
BOLSONARO CONDEMNS PROTEST
However, Bolsonaro, who flew to Miami just two days before Lula’s inauguration, rejected Lula’s claims, saying, “I repudiate the accusations, without evidence, attributed to me by the current head of the executive of Brazil.”
He also condemned the protests, saying, “Peaceful demonstrations, in the form of the law, are part of democracy. However, depredations and invasions of public buildings as occurred today, as well as those practiced by the left in 2013 and 2017, escape the rule.”
Deeply concerned about the news of rioting and vandalism against the State institutions in Brasilia. Democratic traditions must be respected by everyone. We extend our full support to the Brazilian authorities. @LulaOficial
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 9, 2023
REACTIONS
Indian PM Narendra Modi expressed concern about the “rioting and vandalism” in Brasilia, extending support to the authorities. “Democratic traditions must be respected by everyone,” he affirmed.
Similarly, US President Joe Biden called the protests “outrageous,” saying, “I condemn the assault on democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power in Brazil. Brazil’s democratic institutions have our full support and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined.”
The violent attack on democracy in Brazil is eerily reminiscent of the insurrection on January 6th. The people of Brazil voted in a free and fair election and deserve a peaceful transfer of power. I condemn this violence and stand in solidarity in defense of democracy.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) January 8, 2023
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, too, condemned the “acts of violence and illegal occupation of Brasilia’s government quarter by violent extremists today,” asserting that “Brazilian democracy will prevail over violence and extremism.”
While UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly called it “unjustifiable,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres underlined that “the will of the Brazilian people and the country’s institutions must be respected.”