Rioters have invaded and ransacked Brazil’s Congress, presidential palace and Supreme Court, in a grim echo of riots at the U. S. Capitol two years ago through former President Donald Trump’s enthusiasts.
The uprising, which lasted more than 3 hours, marked the serious polarization that continues to affect the country.
This came days after the inauguration of leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who defeated Jair Bolsonaro in October’s election in one of the closest presidential contests, with only 50. 9 percent of the vote.
It made Bolsonaro the first Brazilian president to lose his bid for re-election.
Brazil’s current president, Lula said, on Sunday the “fanatical fascist” vandals who “did what has never been done in the history of this country. “
Speaking at a news conference on an official holiday in Sao Paulo state, he added: “All the other people who did this will be discovered and punished. “
Who protests and why does it protest?
The protesters are far-right supporters of M. Bolsonaro, who challenged Lula’s election victory on Oct. 30, 2022.
Lula was Brazil’s past president from 2003 to 2011, but narrowly defeated M. Bolsonaro last year in a runoff.
Shortly after the election result, Bolsonaro supporters began collecting open-air military bases across Brazil for the first time, calling for the army’s intervention to prevent Lula from returning to office.
In the following days, truckers were among M’s supporters. Bolsonaro, who blocked the country’s roads after his defeat.
In November, Bolsonaro supporters held rallies across the country, calling for the intervention of the armed forces.
Brazilians flocked to a regional army installation to denounce what they described as unfair or stolen elections, while defying a recent Supreme Court order for transparency on roads and public spaces.
Many protesters had hoped the Defense Ministry, which Bolsonaro has sought to involve in monitoring the election, would back up his claims.
The document, published in November, proposed innovations to address some flaws in Brazil’s electoral systems, but found no evidence of fraud.
Domingues Carvalho, 63, who has been protesting for 15 days straight, told the AP news agency: “I am for my country, for my daughter and my 3 grandchildren. “
He added that he kneels in front of the army building to pray. “I will stay here as long as necessary. We are not violent, but we will never, ever leave our country in the hands of the communists,” he said.
What fueled the rallies?
On November 22, Bolsonaro questioned the effects of Brazil’s elections and argued that the votes of some machines would be “invalidated” in a complaint that was later rejected by electoral authorities.
Although Bolsonaro’s leadership has not opposed the transition of power, the far-right leader has yet to give in or congratulate his opponent.
His followers have taken control and also refuse to settle for the outcome.
“This election was not fair,” said businessman Anselmo do Nascimento, 51. “The Supreme Court is neutral. “
In December, Lula’s electoral victory qualified through the Federal Electoral Tribunal.
Later that day, Bolsonaro supporters attempted to invade federal police headquarters in Brasilia, the capital, following the arrest of a pro-Bolsonaro indigenous leader for alleged anti-democratic acts.
Protesters also condemned the closure of many pro-Bolsonaro accounts and teams on social media platforms, describing it as akin to censorship.
Building until the January 8 riots
On Christmas Eve, a guy known as George Washington de Oliveira Sousa was arrested for trying to detonate a bomb in protest of Brazil’s election results. A copy of him to the police showed that he had been encouraged to build an arsenal through the classic help of M. Bolsonaro to arm civilians.
And on December 29, Brazilian police arrested at least four other people for an alleged coup attempt by supporters of M. Bolsonaro.
Lula was sworn in as president for the first time on January 1, where he declared that democracy was the genuine winner of the presidential elections; however, it is taking the reins of a polarized Brazil.
This has not been the case. When he retired in 2011, he did so with an 83% approval rating. A series of scandals led to his imprisonment on corruption charges that were later overturned.
It is the last time before the storming of the Capitol in Brasilia on January 8 by Bolsonaro supporters.