Crowds in São Paulo, the country’s largest city, chanted that Bolsonaro should be jailed
Tens of thousands of people held pro-democracy demonstrations in Brazil in angry reaction to the storming of parliament by supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Protesters have called for the punishment of the perpetrators and the imprisonment of Bolsonaro.
The new president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has promised to eliminate any attempt to overthrow his government.
These statements came after a meeting with officials at the presidential palace, the day after the storming of the seat of government in the capital, Brasilia.
Lula stressed that his administration’s reform agenda would not be derailed, again criticizing the police for their slow intervention.
The developments came a week after Lula da Silva was sworn in in the aftermath of October elections that left Brazil divided.
About 1,500 people were arrested in connection with Sunday’s riots in the capital, Brasilia.
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Crowds in São Paulo, the country’s largest city, chanted that Bolsonaro should be jailed
Bolsonaro is in hospital
Meanwhile, Bolsonaro was rushed to a Florida hospital on Monday after complaining of stomach pains, according to his wife.
Michelle Bolsonaro said he was admitted to a Florida hospital with abdominal pain.
The former president was stabbed in 2018 and has since suffered occasional abdominal pains.
On Monday, Bolsonaro’s wife confirmed on Instagram that she was under observation for abdominal pain.
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Bolsonaro speaking to Brazilian expats in Florida in June 2022
Reuters news agency quoted a source close to the family as saying Bolsonaro’s condition “is not a cause for concern”.
Bolsonaro was taken to a hospital near Orlando on Monday, reportedly.
Bolsonaro left Brazil for the US about 10 days ago. He refused to attend the handover ceremony to new president Lula da Silva last week.
Visa questions
US President Joe Biden is facing pressure from members of his party to get Bolsonaro out of the country.
Democrat Representative Joaquin Castro told CNN, “Bolsonaro should not be in Florida. The United States should not be a refuge for this tyrant who inspired domestic terrorism in Brazil. He should be brought back to Brazil.”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, another Democrat in Congress, called on Twitter for the United States to “stop granting Bolsonaro asylum in Florida”.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Monday that the US had not received “any formal request” from the Brazilian government regarding Bolsonaro’s visa.
Bolsonaro was attacked during an election rally in Minas Gerais state in September 2018. He won the election that same year.
In October, he narrowly lost the election to Lula da Silva.
