3,000 pro-Bolsonaro protesters break into Brazil’s presidential palace, Congress, Supreme Court
At least 3000 supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Sunday stormed into the country’s Congress, presidential palace and Supreme Court.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who defeated Bolsonaro in a close contest last year, instructed the federal security intervention in Brasilia lasting until January 31 after capital security forces were outnumbered by the invaders.
Tear gas was used to displace supporters who were later detained by police at the site. Thousands of protesters cald in yellow-and-green were seen running riot in the capital. The violence in Brasilia could amplify the legal risks that Bolsonaro already faces. It also presents a headache for US authorities as they debate how to handle his stay in Florida.
Lula, in a press conference, launched a blistering attack on Bolsonaro and complained about a lack of security in the capital.
“These vandals, who we could call fanatical Nazis, fanatical Stalinists … fanatical fascists, did what has never been done in the history of this country,” said Lula, who was on an official trip to Sao Paulo state. “All these people who did this will be found and they will be punished,” Lula was quoted as saying by the news agency Reuters.
Meanwhile, the Brazilian police said that they have arrested 300 people protesting, further adding, the investigation would continue until the last member is identified.
Later, the protestors were seen coming out of the Congress in a queue after being arrested.
United States President Joe Biden condemned the attack, terming it to be an assault on democracy and sought a peaceful transfer of power in Brazil.
“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. I look forward to continuing to work with Lula,” said the US president.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the attacks, saying that the country’s institution must be respected.
“I condemn today’s assault on Brazil’s democratic institutions. The will of the Brazilian people and the country’s institutions must be respected. I am confident that it will be so. Brazil is a great democratic country,” said the United Nations secretary general.
Last year, after losing the most fraught Brazil elections to his leftist rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Jair Bolsonaro challenged the election. The supporters of Bolsonaro had filed a complaint with the country’s Superior Electoral Court (TSE) seeking ‘extraordinary verification’ of the election results.
The Liberal party has asked the court to reject ballots from certain voting machines, which it claims were compromised during the second round. The court has now given the party 24 hours to amend its petition, to include the first round of voting.
Lula took office as President of Brazil on January 1 for a third term and became the 39th president of Brazil.
RESEMBLE US CAPITOL ATTACK
The developments in Brazils quite well resemble the attack that took place in the US Capitol, where supporters of Donald Trump stormed into the Congress after the former president expressed reluctance to the peaceful transmission of power.
Thousands of angry Trump supporters barged into the US Capitol as the Congress was in session to certify Joe Biden’s win in the US election. The men and women clashed with police, resulting in casualty and multiple injuries and interrupting the constitutional process.