Exactly one week after Lula’s inauguration, which had mixed ceremonial pomp and popular joy in Brasilia, unleashed hordes thus invaded and ransacked the Presidential Palace of Planalto, the Supreme Court and Congress.
“A climate of national unity”
“It is clear that the events (from January 8) had the opposite effect“to what was sought, explains to AFP Mayra Goulart, professor of political science at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). “Lula undoubtedly emerges strengthened. These assaults have created a climate of national unity for the defense of democracy“.
The image was strong: Lula descending the ramp of the presidential palace to go to the Place des Trois-pouvoirs, flanked by the heads of the Senate, the Chamber of Deputies, the Supreme Court and the governors, only a few hours after the ransacking of the places of power. Together, they reaffirmed that the young democracy would not waver in Brazil, three decades after the end of the military dictatorship.
Abroad, the assault was unanimously condemned. Washington, Moscow, Beijing, the European Union, Paris or the Latin American capitals have expressed their full support for the president of a Brazil, who, under Bolsonaro, had isolated himself from the world.
“The international turmoil will consolidate the position of Lula, who will be perceived as an important leader who can contribute to a strengthening of multilateral forums“, predicts Mayra Goulart.
(Meet again : Brazil: Bolsonaro targeted by the investigation into the rampages in Brasilia
“Unanimous support”
Leandro Gabiati, director of the consultancy firm Dominium, also believes that “the positive image that Lula already had abroad is reinforced“. And that of Jair Bolsonaro, even more degraded. He is now targeted by the investigation into the instigators of the violence with which he swears he has no connection.
And domestically, Lula is strong”the unanimous support of governors, Congress, the Supreme Court and the financial sector“, all political tendencies taken together.
In this sequence, the historic leader of the left also has behind him the political class and the Brazilian population. For the most part, she was shocked by the staggering images of violence against institutions.
Lula “was challenged and he did pretty well“, therefore believes Leandro Gabiati. He evokes “a balanced attitude that has, in a way, restored normality“.
(Meet again : Brazil: massive support for President Lula
In official buildings still full of broken windows and gutted old furniture, the new ministers of Lula’s government continued to be invested in official ceremonies, almost as if nothing had happened, in the days following the Bolsonarian tornado.
But Lula’s government was firm: the “fascists“will be hunted down, sentenced – up to 30 years in prison for”terrorism– so did everyone who organized and financed the riots.
Within days, more than a thousand troublemakers were incarcerated. The police forces and security services will be reorganized, the security of the presidential palace purged of Bolsonarists.
Lula will have to”take exemplary sanctions in order to avoid the repetition of this type of demonstration“, estimates Leandro Gabiati.
(Meet again : Brazil: democracy under threat?
A country that remains divided
Because the left-wing president remains under the threat of a Bolsonarist movement whose most extreme elements have not given up on bringing him down. And nothing says that the national union will last.
These events “came to remind that Lula is facing a deeply divided country“, note the Eurasia consultants.
Lula defeated Bolsonaro on the presidential wire with 60 million votes against 58 million, after a violent and polarized campaign. In addition, he must face many challenges for this third term at the head of Brazil where poverty and hunger are scourges.
“It is necessary to expend energy on the investigations and convictions of the putschists“, says Leandro Goulart, but “this must not contaminate de Lula’s mandate“.
The icon on the left will have to “improve the living conditions of the population, revive the economy and public policies“, if he wants to make his mandate a success.