Supporters of right-wing Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro attempted to storm the federal police headquarters in the capital, Brasilia, to protest the arrest of a prominent Bolsonaro supporter who was defeated in last October’s presidential election by his left-wing rival Lula da Silva, who will officially assume the presidency early next year.
Yesterday, Monday, the capital witnessed violence and clashes between the police and supporters of the president, after the authorities arrested for a period of 10 days Jose Acacio Serre Zavante, one of the leaders of the indigenous communities of the country, after being accused to have participated in anti-democratic actions.
Reuters reported that Bolsonaro supporters, many of whom are wearing soccer jerseys or draping Brazilian flags, are confronting security forces at police headquarters. On the other hand, the police fired stun grenades and tear gas to disperse the protesters and set fire to buses and cars adjacent to the police headquarters.
judicial confirmation
Yesterday, the Federal Electoral Court confirmed da Silva’s victory in the presidential elections which took place on October 30, 2022, and Bolsonaro did not admit defeat to Lula, but did not officially prevent the transfer of power.
However, some Bolsonaro supporters blocked highways in protest and set up camps in front of army barracks, calling for a military coup to prevent da Silva from taking office. Hundreds of Bolsonaro supporters gathered yesterday afternoon in front of the presidential residence, carrying placards calling for “military intervention” and the president joined them in public prayer but did not address the crowd.
Senator Randolph Rodriguez, one of da Silva’s top aides, said there were safety concerns for the president-elect and his vice president, Geraldo Alcmene, as protesters surrounded his hotel in Brasilia.
Da Silva’s team has denied reports that he was flown from the hotel by helicopter and public safety officials in Brasilia said they had secured the area around his hotel in Da Silva, urging motorists to avoid the center of the city where many roads were closed.
Interestingly, da Silva (77) previously ruled the country for two consecutive terms from 2003 to 2010 and was jailed on corruption charges during the years 2018 and 2019, before the Supreme Court ruled that the case was not was valid and ordered his release.
