Clashes in Brazil: pictures of the coup by the Bolsonarists

Scenes of chaos on Sunday in the Brazilian capital. A week after Lula took office as president, thousands of supporters of his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, invaded places of power in Brasilia, wreaking havoc before being expelled hours later.

The event, which almost exactly resembles the day of the storming of the US Capitol two years ago, is unique since democracy was restored in Brazil four decades ago. Summary in pictures.

In the mid-afternoon of this Sunday, supporters of Jair Bolsonaro forced the police checkpoints to access the Place des Trois-Pouvoirs, the esplanade in the heart of the Brazilian capital flanked by the headquarters of the executive power (the presidential palace), legislative ( Congress) and judiciary (the Supreme Court).

The three buildings with unique contemporary architecture were inaugurated in 1960, when Brasilia became the country’s capital. On this Sunday afternoon they are empty.

A Bolsonarist activist prays in front of the police. Supporters of Jair Bolsonaro contest the latter’s defeat on the wire two months ago, and the return to power of the former leftist president Lula.

A veritable human tide of protesters dressed in the jersey of the Brazilian soccer team invaded the esplanade. They sing a message for several hours: “military intervention”, thus inviting the army to oust Lula from power.

Clashes break out with the police. The police, who seemed completely overwhelmed, tried unsuccessfully to drive them away. Protesters gain access to Congress.

Inside the Palazzo dei Congressi, which houses the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, the rioters cause extensive damage. They loot the offices of parliamentarians, set fires, break shop windows, write on others “Intervention now” or “Abolition of the three powers”.

The rioters climb up to the dome of the building, from which they will be dislodged only several hours later.

The presidential palace is in turn invaded. A lot of vandalism is done there. Priceless paintings were damaged, including “I Mulatti”, by the modernist painter Di Cavalcanti, which is pierced by several holes, according to photos circulating on social networks.

The same scenes occur at the Supreme Court building. Many windows are broken, offices looted.

Many protesters are arrested. The Minister of Justice, Flavio Dino, mentions the number of 200 arrests, the governor of Brasilia, Ibaneis Rocha, double that. The latter, a former ally of Jair Bolsonaro, will be suspended from office by the Supreme Court in the evening, accused of not having done enough to protect the institutions.

In the evening, the buildings are evacuated. Lula, who was within the state of São Paulo, returned to the capital. “All those people who did this will be found and punished,” he promises.

Brazil: places of power invaded by Bolsonaro supporters