New Delhi: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday (January 9, 2023) labeled supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro – who Attacked the country’s Congress, the Presidential Palace and the Supreme Court – as a “hardcore fascist”. Lula announced a federal security intervention in Brasília, which would last until 31 January, after the capital’s security forces were initially overwhelmed by the invaders. The leftist president, who defeated Bolsonaro in an election last year, also blamed him for inciting his supporters following a campaign of baseless allegations of possible election fraud following the end of his rule marked by divisive nationalist populism.
“These barbarians, whom we can call fanatical fascists, did what has never been done in the history of this country,” Lula said at a press conference.
“All those who do this will be traced and punished,” he added.
“This genocidal … promoting this through social media from Miami,” Lula said, referring to Brazil’s far-right former president Bolsonaro.
“Everyone knows that many speeches by former presidents encourage this,” he said.
pronunciation from Lula is anti-democratic https://t.co/c2Wnk9X39F
— Lula (@LulaOfficial) January 8, 2023
However, Bolsonaro posted on Twitter that he “rejects” Lula’s allegations against him.
He also said that while peaceful demonstrations are part of a democracy, attacking and damaging public buildings “crosses boundaries.”
– There is no main thing, counterclaims in the form of allegations, semi-propositions, a mime attributadas por parte do actual chef do Brazil. – Jair M. Bolsonaro 2️⃣2️⃣ (@jairbolsonaro) January 9, 2023
– Manifestacos Pacificas, na forma da lei, fazem parte da democracia. Continuing, misconduct and invasion of the public, as already happening, as an exercise in 2013 and 2017, resumes.
– Jair M. Bolsonaro 2️⃣2️⃣ (@jairbolsonaro) January 9, 2023
Bolsonaro flew to Florida 48 hours before the end of his term and was absent from Lula’s inauguration on 1 January.
According to the latest reports, the invaders of the capital left a trail of destruction by throwing furniture through the broken windows of the presidential palace, flooding parts of Congress with sprinkler systems, and ransacking formal rooms in the Supreme Court.