8/1/2023–|Last updated: 8/1/202311:13 pm (Makkah Al-Mukarramah)
On Sunday, hundreds of supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the Congress Palace, the Presidential Palace and the Federal Supreme Court Square in the capital, Brasilia, to protest the assumption of power by the President Lula da Silva.
The raid came a week after da Silva took office and Bolsonaro left the country for the United States.
The Al-Jazeera correspondent reported that protesters destroyed furniture and contents inside the “Planato” presidential palace in Brasilia, as well as storming the main hall of the federal parliament and the Federal Supreme Court building.
Clashes were ongoing between police and supporters of right-wing former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro after they stormed the Congress building, the journalist said.
The Bolsonarists are inside the Senate Chamber: pic.twitter.com/ZuLDeEanJY
— Nathalia Urban (@UrbanNathalia) January 8, 2023
Images broadcast by activists on social media showed protesters opposing the inauguration of left-wing President Lula da Silva entered government buildings, destroying and tampering with furniture and contents inside, while some of them sat in the presidential chair of the Brazilian parliament.
The congress president said the police are trying to control the situation in front of the building and enforce the law.
He added that he strongly rejected anti-democratic actions and stressed the need to enforce the law.
🚨 URGENT: Bolsonarists are destroying everything that comes forward inside the Planalto Palace. pic.twitter.com/xjnlpN5PCH
— Central da Política (@centralpolitcs) January 8, 2023
For its part, CNN Brasil reported that protesters stormed a parking lot of the “Planato” presidential palace in Brasilia, and Reuters said that President da Silva is on an official visit to the state of São Paulo.
After Lula da Silva won the presidential election by a narrow margin against Bolsonaro, Bolsonaro supporters staged protests and blocked roads in many regions of the country, while a man intending to detonate a bomb was arrested.
Bolsonaro did not acknowledge da Silva’s victory and missed his inauguration ceremony, which took place on Sunday.
