8/1/2023–|Last updated: 8/1/202311:02 PM (Makkah Al-Mukarramah)
Hundreds of supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro stormed today, Sunday, the Congress building, the presidential palace and the square of the Supreme Federal Court in the capital, Brasilia, to protest against President Lula da Silva’s assumption of power.
The raid took place a week after da Silva was inaugurated and Bolsonaro left the country for the United States.
Al-Jazeera correspondent reported that protesters smashed furniture and contents inside the “Planato” presidential palace in Brasilia, in addition to storming the main federal parliament hall and the building of the Federal Supreme Court.
The reporter reported that clashes were taking place between the police and supporters of the right-wing former Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonar, after they stormed the Congress building.
Bolsonaristas are inside the House of Senate: pic.twitter.com/ZuLDeEanJY
— Nathália Urban (@UrbanNathalia) January 8, 2023
Pictures transmitted by activists on social media showed that protesters opposed to the inauguration of leftist President Lula da Silva entered government buildings, destroyed furniture and contents inside, and tampered with their contents, while a number of them sat on the chair of the presidency 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 rejects anti-democratic actions, and stressed the need to enforce the law.
???? URGENT: Bolsonaristas are destroying everything that comes ahead inside the Planalto Palace. pic.twitter.com/xjnlpN5PCH
— Central da Política (@centralpolitcs) January 8, 2023
For its part, CNN Brasil reported that the demonstrators stormed a parking lot at the “Planato” presidential palace in Brasilia, and Archyde.com said that President da Silva is on an official visit to the state of Sao Paulo, but in the palace.
After Lula da Silva won the presidential election by a narrow margin against Bolsonaro, Bolsonaro supporters organized protests and blocked roads in many regions of the country, while a man who was intending to detonate a bomb was arrested.
Bolsonaro did not recognize da Silva’s victory and missed his inauguration ceremony, which took place last Sunday.