09 January 2023 , 19:01
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Thousands of rioters are being hunted after storming Brazil’s seats of power, unable to accept the election defeat of far right former president Jair Bolsonaro.
Copying the bid by Donald Trump’s violent MAGA supporters to overturn the country’s democracy, Brazil’s Congress, Supreme Court and presidential palace were invaded.
Thugs charged past security barricades, climbed on roofs, smashed windows and stormed all three buildings. Some chanted for a military intervention to restore Bolsonaro, dubbed Trump of the Tropics, to power or oust new president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
It took hours to re- establish control of the buildings on Brasilia’s Three Powers Square.
There have been 300 arrests so far.
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World leaders blasted Sunday’s demo, which echoed the 2021 insurrection in Washington DC by Trump fans.
A supporter of Brazilian former President Jair Bolsonaro is evacuated by fellow supporters after being wounded during clashes with riot police outside Planalto Presidential Palace (AFP via Getty Images)Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “I condemn any attempt to undermine the peaceful transfer of power and democratic will of the people.”
He added that Mr da Silva has the UK’s “full support”. US President Joe Biden called it an “assault on democracy”.
Authorities are investigating the perpetrators, including those who hired buses for demonstrators.
Justice minister Flavio Dino said the rioting amounted to terrorism and coup-mongering but added: “They will not succeed in destroying our democracy.” The country has been on edge since Bolsonaro’s October 30 defeat.
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva walks at the Planalto Palace after it was stormed by supporters of Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro (Eraldo Peres/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Like Trump, he claimed that Brazil’s voting system was prone to fraud but gave no evidence.
Brazil expert Fiona Macaulay, of University of Bradford, told the Mirror she feared this is only the beginning.
“Bolsonaro and his key backers are enjoying the havoc. Perhaps they want to show that Brazil is ungovernable and that the military should take over and new elections held. But Bolsonaro may not return from his bolthole in Florida.”