São Paulo – Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is in the United States, on Sunday condemned the attempted coup promoted by his extremist supporters, who overran the headquarters of the three powers in Brasilia.
“Peaceful demonstrations within the framework of the law are part of democracy. But vandalism and storming of public buildings such as those that occurred today and those practiced by the left in 2013 and 2017 escape the rule,” the former president said. Mentioned on his social networks.
The retired army chief, who left power on January 1, rejected in his letter the “accusations without evidence” launched by the current head of state, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who on Sunday criticized his predecessor for “motivating” the coup actions. One of his most extreme supporters.
“Throughout my tenure, I have always been within the four lines of the constitution and defended laws, democracy, transparency and our sacred freedom,” said the Brazilian far-right leader.
Bolsonaro, who still does not openly admit defeat in the Oct. 30 elections, traveled to the United States two days before Lula’s inauguration without an official return plan.
From the time the elections were held until his departure for Orlando, the former governor locked himself in the official residence and minimized his public actions, while his more radical followers blocked many of the country’s major highways or promoted serious unrest in Brasília on the eve of Lula’s inauguration.
On Sunday, thousands of these extremists, who have been calling for weeks at the barracks gates for the intervention of the armed forces to overthrow Lula and restore Bolsonaro to power, invaded and destroyed Congress, the presidency and the Supreme Court. .
Hundreds of supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the National Congress headquarters on Sunday in a demonstration calling for military intervention to overthrow President Lula da Silva.
The putschists caused great damage inside these buildings, and the security forces dispersed them only after four hours.
According to Justice Minister Flavio Dino, “nearly 200” of them have been arrested so far.
Lula, for his part, promised to identify and punish the “fascist vandals” who “destroyed everything in their path” in Brasilia, and decreed federal intervention in the Brazilian capital’s security zone until January 31.
This measure means that Brasília’s police forces will now be under the direct control of the central government.
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