New Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, center, accompanied by his wife, First Lady Rosangela “Ganga” da Silva, right, and Brazilian indigenous leader and environmentalist Rony Metocter, better known as Chief Raony, later at his inauguration at the National Convention In Brasilia on January 1, 2023 (Sergio Lima / AFP / Getty Images)
Today’s unrest comes a week after the inauguration of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who defeated Jair Bolsonaro in a runoff on October 30 and is now back in power after a 12-year hiatus.
The election came amid a tense and polarized political climate in Brazil, which is grappling with high inflation, limited growth and rising poverty.
In the weeks since Bolsonaro’s defeat, thousands of his supporters have gathered at military headquarters across the country, calling for the military to intervene as they claim, without evidence, that the election was stolen.
Statements by the former president: Bolsonaro alleged that some voting machines failed in the second round with Lula. He filed a petition to overturn the ballot in the election.
The head of Brazil’s Electoral Tribunal dismissed the request as “ridiculous and illegal” and “appears to have conspired against the democratic rule of law.”
In his ruling, Alexandre de Moraes, president of Brazil’s Supreme Court of Elections, said all electronic ballot forms are “completely recognizable in a clear, secure and comprehensive manner”.
Bolsonaro’s government said it would cooperate with the transition of power, but the far-right leader refrained from openly acknowledging his electoral defeat and left for the United States before Lula’s inauguration.
Since then, Bolsonaro supporters have camped out in the capital. Justice Minister Flavio Dino authorized the armed forces to install barriers and guard the Congress building on Saturday due to the continued presence of Bolsonaro supporters. But the crowd breached those defenses on Sunday.
Past Violence: Since Bolsonaro refused to openly acknowledge his electoral defeat, there have been other instances of violence in Brazil.
A man was arrested in Brasilia after he was caught trying to enter Lula’s inauguration with a knife and fireworks, the Federal State Police said in a statement.
The police also arrested a man on suspicion of planting and possessing explosive devices at Brasilia International Airport.
The suspect, identified as the 54-year-old George Washington gas station manager, is a supporter of Bolsonaro and told police in a statement seen by CNN that he intends to “stir up chaos” to prevent Lula from taking office.
Bolsonaro condemned the Souza bombing, saying there was “no justification” for a “terrorist act”.
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