The intrusion of thousands of supporters of Brazil’s ex-president Jair Bolsonaro into the country’s government buildings shows the country’s deep divisiveness.
In Brasília, the capital of Brazil, on Epiphany weekend, a repetition of the events of the US Congress building two years ago was seen.
Thousands of former president, far right Jair Bolsonaro supporters invaded the three most important buildings of the country’s democracy on Sunday: the presidential palace, the congress building and the Supreme Court building.
The rioters dispute the October election result, which brought the Labor Party Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva returned to power. Before this, Bolsonaro, who suffered from declining support, had cultivated claims of election fraud for years. Bolsonaro did not acknowledge his election defeat and did not attend Lula’s inauguration, but instead traveled to Florida in the United States. Bolsonaro condemned Sunday’s riot only six hours after it broke out.
This time, however, the Congress was not in session and no one died in connection with the riot.
Bolsonaro and his supporters still followed a pattern very similar to that of the former US president Donald Trump and his supporters.
That’s why the events of Epiphany weekend are not surprising.
The tight election result showed Brazil’s deep divisiveness, and Lula’s inauguration a week ago had to be held with heavy security measures due to political violence.
Just like the one who beat Trump in the presidential election Joe Biden, Lula has also promised to be the president of the entire nation. Sunday’s events showed that Lula has a huge job ahead of him to fulfill his promise.
Brazil’s politics and economy have been in turmoil with the corruption scandal that has rocked the Labor Party. Bolsonaro succeeded in inciting distrust towards the country’s democracy and political elite. Although several of Bolsonaro’s allies acknowledged Lula’s election victory after the results came out, the damage had already been done.
There are also long legal processes ahead. Hundreds of those who broke into government buildings have been arrested. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Morães shelved the governor of the capital region Ibanez Rochan out of office – according to the judge (you will switch to another service) the intrusion could only have occurred due to the indifference or even complicity of the security forces.
Bolsonaro’s role in the events will also undoubtedly be examined.
In the Brazilian media, the rioters are already being called terrorists and usurpers. However, the courts ultimately decide on the verdicts.
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