Brazil’s newly formed government is bracing for a new wave of protests from supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro following their invasion of key government buildings over the weekend in an apparent attempt to topple the administration.
Brazil’s leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva tightened security in front of the Planalto Palace, the National Congress and the Federal Supreme Court on Wednesday after a flyer circulating on social media encouraging protesters to take part in the “mega-protest to retake power”, urging them to turn back in two dozen cities, including the capital, Al Jazeera reported.
Uncertain authorities did not risk preventing a repeat of the riots on Sunday even though it was unclear how violent these protests could become.
“We have measures for this Wednesday to strengthen security throughout the country since pamphlets of new demonstrations have been circulated,” Lula’s chief of staff, Rui Costa, said late Tuesday after a cabinet meeting, the outlet reported. Argus. “All the public security forces are mobilized” to protect Brasília from a repetition, Deputy Justice Minister Ricardo Cappelli told reporters.
According to a court ruling, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, citing action on social media, on Wednesday ordered local government officials to halt roadblocks and trespassing on public facilities, according to Reuters.
On January 8, Bolsonaro supporters invaded Congress, the presidential palace and the supreme court in Brasilia. Some roads were briefly closed as a result, but have since been unblocked. On January 8 and 9, there was damage to electricity transmission towers and cables in the states of Paraná and Rondonia.
Federal district police said at least 1,500 people who stormed the buildings have been detained so far. Police released around 684 detainees for “humanitarian reasons”, including the elderly, people with health problems and parents of young children, Reuters reported.
Protest organizers have been urging people to block roads and refineries, cut power lines and create enough disruptions to trigger a military coup that would nullify the election Bolsonaro lost to Lula in October.
During a press conference, Cappelli, who was appointed as the federal official in charge of public security in the capital after the riots on Sunday, said: “Those who lost the elections and are trying to create a crisis will not succeed.” .
In a difficult race, Bolsonaro lost the second round to da Silva, who received 50.9% of the vote to Bolsonaro’s 49.1%. Remarks by the far-right former president that votes should be “invalidated” because of alleged problems with voting machines likely led to Sunday’s deadly riots.
Despite no evidence of voter fraud, protesters claim far-right Bolsonaro was the real winner on October 30.
(With agency contributions)
