Brazil: Lula accuses Jair Bolsonaro of encouraging protests

PublishedDecember 13, 2022, 10:56 PM

Brazil: Lula accuses Jair Bolsonaro of encouraging protests

Supporters of outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro have increased violent protests in recent weeks in Brazil.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on December 13, 2022, in Brasilia.

AFP

Brazil’s President-elect Lula on Tuesday called outgoing head of state Jair Bolsonaro a “fascist” and accused him of encouraging violent protests like those that took place Monday night in Brasília.

“He still does not recognize his defeat, he continues to encourage the fascists who are mobilized in the street,” said Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during a press conference. “He follows the script of all the fascist (leaders),” added the former worker, citing far-right movements in France, Spain, Italy, Hungary or the United States.

Burned vehicles

Monday evening, Bolsonarist militants set fire to vehicles and tried to break into the headquarters of the Federal Police following the arrest of one of their own. The police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrators, some armed with sticks responded by throwing stones.

The demonstrators wanted to obtain by force the release of a Bolsonarist who calls himself an indigenous cacique and who has been placed in pre-trial detention for ten days. José Acacio Serere Xavante, also an evangelical pastor, is accused by the prosecution of having organized several demonstrations “of an anti-democratic nature” in the capital, including in front of the hotel where Lula is staying.

Since the defeat of Jair Bolsonaro, some of his supporters of the far-right outgoing president have camped outside barracks in different cities, demanding military intervention once morest the outcome of the ballot box. Lula, 77, who ruled Brazil from 2003 to 2010, will begin his third term on January 1.

Tears

The left-wing president-elect might not hold back his tears as he received certification of his election during a ceremony Monday at the Superior Electoral Court in Brasília. During his press conference on Tuesday, he promised to carry out a reform of the tax system from the start of his mandate.

Lula also confirmed the appointment of Aloisio Mercadante, a historic figure of the Workers’ Party (PT), as head of the Public Development Bank (BNDES). Earlier today, singer Margareth Menezes said she agreed to become culture minister, a portfolio that had been relegated to a mere secretariat under Bolsonaro. She is the first woman and first black person appointed to the new Lula government, following the announcement of five white men as ministers last week.

(AFP)