Bolsonaro supporters raid Congress, presidential palace in Brazilia

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
8 Jan 2023 22:21
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The protestors also stormed the Supreme Court building.

Protesters, supporters of Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro, storm the Planalto Palace building in Brasilia, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023 (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Supporters of Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro broke into the country's 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 Ocotober 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 said.

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

Some protesters were holding signs calling on the country's military to "intervene militarily" against democratically elected Brazilian President Lula da Silva.

Protesters, supporters of Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro, hold a banner that reads in Portuguese " Military Intervention" as they storm the National Congress building in Brasilia, Brazil, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023 (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

On January 1, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in as the President of Brazil to begin a four-year term for the third time in his life.

The new Brazilian President vowed to haul Brazil out of Jair Bolsonaro’s era of “devastation”, and barbarism. He promised to lead Brazil into a new chapter of environmental protection, social progress, and a “rational democratic” government.

As soon as the election results were announced, Bolsonaro supporters took to the streets to protest Lula's victory, with over 100 protests reported on October 31, which blocked major roads and highways in 18 different states.

The blocks have visibly diminished since Bolsonaro called on his supporters to "unblock the roads" later on. He did however raise concerns of political turmoil by encouraging his supporter base of taking part in a "legitimate demonstration".