Bolsonarists invade the Congress, the Presidential Palace and the Supreme Court of Brazil

First modification: 01/08/2023 – 20:55

A human tide of protesters dressed in yellow and green stormed the headquarters of the powers in the Brazilian capital, according to the AFP, leaving impressive images that recall the invasion of the Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021.

Demonstrators protest against the return to power of Lula, who defeated Bolsonaro in the second round on October 30 and was sworn in as Brazil’s new president a week ago.

Media images such as the Globo News television network and others broadcast on social networks showed the protesters invading Congress facilities, but also reaching the presidential palace of Planalto and the Supreme Court -highest court- of Brazil, located in the same area where the three powers of the State are concentrated, the so-called Esplanade of the Ministries.

In what was rapidly developing into a serious episode of political instability, authorities cordoned off the area around the legislative building in Brasilia.

However, hundreds of Bolsonaro supporters who refuse to accept the electoral victory of the leftist Lula made their way, overcame the fences, climbed the ramps and congregated on the roof of the modernist architecture building, an AFP reporter found.

“This absurd attempt to impose the will by force will not prevail,” warned the new Justice Minister, Flavio Dino, on his Twitter account. The senior official added that “there will be reinforcements” from the authorities to suppress this invasion.

On Saturday, Dino authorized the deployment of agents from the National Force, a special police force.

Military intervention

The shocking images released in the media and networks are reminiscent of the violent invasion of the United States Capitol building in Washington, by supporters of then-Republican President Donald Trump, an ally of Bolsonaro, to prevent the certification of Democrat Joe Biden as winner of the elections.

“We have to restore order, after this fraudulent election,” Sarah Lima, a 27-year-old pro-Bolsonaro engineer from Goianesia, 300 km from Brasilia, who was present at the scene, told an AFP journalist.

The tide of people also stormed into the national Congress, many waving Brazilian flags in a similar patriotic hue.

This building is where the Brazilian Senate and Chamber of Deputies hold their legislative sessions.

Security forces used tear gas in an unsuccessful attempt to disperse the protesters.

Lula, 77, was not in Brasilia on Sunday. She traveled to Araraquara, a city in the southeastern state of Sao Paulo, devastated by floods at the end of the year.

Bolsonaro, who narrowly lost to former President Lula (2003-2010) in the second round of the presidential elections on October 30, left Brazil at the end of the year and traveled to the United States, to the state of Florida (southeast), where Trump now resides.

Supporters of the former Brazilian president have demonstrated in front of military barracks since Bolsonaro was defeated to demand the intervention of the army, with the aim of preventing Lula’s return to power for a third term.

News in development

with AFP