Biden condemns Brazil riots alongside Mexico, Canada leaders

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US President Joe Biden released Monday a joint statement with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemning the riots in Brazil, which have broken out against newly-inaugurated President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Supporters of Bolsonaro broke into the Planalto presidential palace and Congress building on Sunday, in protest against leftist President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva who defeated far-right Bolsonaro in the presidential elections held on October 30.

Hundreds of protesters holding the Brazilian flag stormed the national congress and took the roofs waving the country's flags despite attempts by security officers to contain the unrest, an AFP photographer reported.

The Supreme Court building in the vicinity of the presidential palace was also raided by the protestors.

"Canada, Mexico, and the United States condemn the January 8 attacks on Brazil’s democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power. We stand with Brazil as it safeguards its democratic institutions," the joint statement said.

Following the protests that broke out throughout the country's capital on Sunday, Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes demanded that the camp be immediately dismantled.

Additionally, cars are prohibited from entering the restricted area, but pedestrians can move around it freely, the report said.

Furthermore, the joint statement added that the three heads of state were looking forward to working with President Lula.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was sworn in and started his third term as president of Brazil on January 1, called the attacks on government buildings in Brasilia barbaric and ordered the use of federal forces to restore order in the capital.

It is worth noting that at the time of the riots, Lula was in Sao Paolo on an official trip. The Brazilian President told a press conference following the incident that "these vandals, whom we could call fanatical fascists, did what has never been done in the history of this country," adding that "all these people who did this will be found and they will be punished."

The events prompted various countries and international organizations to voice their support for Lula, with many calling the riots an anti-democratic coup attempt.

Obrador had previously described the events as a "reprehensible and undemocratic coup attempt by the conservatives in Brazil," adding that such actions were "encouraged by the oligarchic power leadership, their spokespersons and fanatics."

The Mexican President said that "Lula is not alone, he has the support of the progressive forces of his country, Mexico, the American continent, and the world."

Reprobable y antidemocrático el intento golpista de los conservadores de Brasil azuzados por la cúpula del poder oligárquico, sus voceros y fanáticos. Lula no está solo, cuenta con el apoyo de las fuerzas progresistas de su país, de México, del continente americano y del mundo.

— Andrés Manuel (@lopezobrador_) January 8, 2023

Mexico's Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on his Twitter account said that Lula da Silva has his country's full support.

"Faced with the events in Brazil, we express Mexico's full support for the Government of President Lula, elected by popular will," Ebrard said."We reject any attempt against the democratic institutions that this brother nation has established."

Frente a los acontecimientos en Brasil ,manifestamos el pleno respaldo de México al Gobierno del Presidente Lula electo por voluntad popular. Rechazamos cualquier intento en contra de las instituciones democráticas que se ha dado ese pueblo hermano.

— Marcelo Ebrard C. (@m_ebrard) January 8, 2023

Moreover, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Twitter "We condemn the attacks on Brazil's Presidency, Congress, and Supreme Court today. Using violence to attack democratic institutions is always unacceptable. We join @lulaoficial in urging an immediate end to these actions."

We condemn the attacks on Brazil's Presidency, Congress, and Supreme Court today. Using violence to attack democratic institutions is always unacceptable. We join @lulaoficial in urging an immediate end to these actions.

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 8, 2023

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also remarked that "the United States condemns any effort to undermine democracy in Brazil," adding that "President Biden is following the situation closely and our support for Brazil's democratic institutions is unwavering," and reaffirmed "Brazil's democracy will not be shaken by violence."

The United States condemns any effort to undermine democracy in Brazil. President Biden is following the situation closely and our support for Brazil’s democratic institutions is unwavering. Brazil’s democracy will not be shaken by violence.

— Jake Sullivan (@JakeSullivan46) January 8, 2023