Lula vows 'no pardon' for those convicted for January 8 riots

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
9 Jan 2024 10:02
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In a speech given at one of the Congress buildings that were attacked, Lula da Silva stressed the need to protect and preserve Brazil's democracy, specifically from those who endangered it.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva leaves after attending a ceremony marking the first anniversary of rioters storming government buildings in support of former President Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil, Monday, January 8, 2024. (AP)

On Monday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced that ex-president Jair Bolsonaro's far-right followers would not be pardoned, a year after rioters invaded and attacked parliament.

In a speech given at one of the Congress buildings that were attacked, Lula da Silva stressed the need to protect and preserve Brazil's democracy, specifically from those who endangered it.

"There can be no pardon for those who attack democracy," he said, adding, "Pardon would look like impunity, and impunity would look like a free pass for new terrorist attacks on our country. We saved democracy... But democracy must be built and protected every day."

Todos aqueles que financiaram, planejaram e executaram a tentativa de golpe devem ser exemplarmente punidos. Não há perdão para quem atenta contra a democracia, contra seu país e contra o seu próprio povo. O perdão soaria como impunidade. E a impunidade, como salvo conduto para…
— Lula (@LulaOficial) January 8, 2024

Bolsonaro's mask slips

President Lula da Silva also addressed Bolsonaro's attempts at inciting doubt in Brazil's voting system and causing divisions among the people, dubbing him a "coup-monger".

The former far-right president denied having any strings to the riots and accused the Brazilian left of orchestrating them, saying that this is not "the way the right behaves" in a statement to CNN on Saturday.

However, at the time of the riots, Bolsonaro did not explicitly and vehemently condemn the situation, saying peaceful protests are a part of democracy. It is also worth mentioning that the violent mobs emerged following serious accusations of fraud within the system after the elections resulted in Bolsonaro's loss.

Lula, back then, stated, "This genocidist [Bolsonaro] ... is encouraging this via social media from Miami," reaffirming that "everybody knows there are various speeches of the ex-president encouraging this."

The aftermath

Brazilian authorities are still pursuing those who had ties to the riots by mass raids and arrest campaigns. So far, 30 people have been officially convicted, out of 2,170 suspects. Charges include armed criminal conspiracy, violent uprising against the rule of law, and an attempted coup, with sentences of up to 17 years, confirming Lula's aversion to any form of pardon.

Last June, Brazil decided to bar Bolsonaro from running for elections in the upcoming eight years due to provocations against Brazil's voting system.

Days after the insurgency took place at the Supreme Court and the Presidential Palace, Lula said that the rioters likely obtained inside help. Lula told journalists he had ordered a "thorough review" of presidential palace staff after Sunday's violent riots.

40 members of the armed forces who were guarding his presidential residence were also dismissed right after the riots.