On Sunday, hundreds of supporters of far-right former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the headquarters of Congress, the Supreme Court and the Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, a week following the inauguration of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as president of the country, international positions condemning the “attack on democracy.”
A number of countries in the world, including the United States, France, Italy and Latin American countries, condemned the storming, while Brazil described the demonstrators as “fascist saboteurs”.
Brazil
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Sunday condemned the storming of “fascist vandals” the headquarters of the Congress, the Supreme Court and the presidential palace of Planalto in Brasilia.
“We will find them all and they will all be punished,” Lula said, stressing that “democracy guarantees freedom of expression, but it also requires respect for institutions.”
“What these vandals, these fanatical fascists have done… is unprecedented in the history of our country. Those who financed (these protests) will pay the price for these irresponsible and undemocratic actions,” he added.
For his part, Minister of Justice and Public Security Flavio Dino said on Twitter, “This futile attempt to impose a will by force will not prevail. The government of the Federal District (Brasilia) will send reinforcements, and the forces we have are moving.”
This absurd attempt to impose the will by force will not prevail. The Government of the Federal District claims that there will be reinforcements. And the forces at our disposal are at work. I’m at the headquarters of the Ministry of Justice.
— Flávio Dino ???????? (@FlavioDino) January 8, 2023
United State
US President Joe Biden on Sunday described the attack by Bolsonaro supporters as “outrageous”.
“I condemn the assault on democracy and the peaceful transfer of power in Brazil,” Biden wrote.
I condemn the assault on democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power in Brazil. Brazil’s democratic institutions have our full support and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined. I look forward to continuing to work with @LulaOficial.
— President Biden (@POTUS) January 8, 2023
“Brazilian democratic institutions have our full support, and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined. I look forward to continuing to work with Lula,” he added.
“Using violence to attack democratic institutions is always unacceptable,” his Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, wrote on Twitter.
We condemn the attacks on Brazil’s Presidency, Congress, and Supreme Court today. Using violence to attack democratic institutions is always unacceptable. We join @lulaoficial in urging an immediate end to these actions.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 8, 2023
In turn, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan wrote on Twitter, “The United States condemns any attempt to undermine democracy in Brazil. President Biden is following the situation closely.”
The United States condemns any effort to undermine democracy in Brazil. President Biden is following the situation closely and our support for Brazil’s democratic institutions is unwavering. Brazil’s democracy will not be shaken by violence.
— Jake Sullivan (@JakeSullivan46) January 8, 2023
Mexico
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has expressed his support for Lula. “The attempted coup in Brazil is reprehensible and undemocratic,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Lula is not alone. He has the support of the progressive forces of his country, Mexico, the Americas and the world,” he added.
Reprehensible and undemocratic the coup attempt by the Brazilian conservatives urged on by the leadership of the oligarchic power, their spokespersons and fanatics. Lula is not alone, he has the support of the progressive forces of his country, of Mexico, of the American continent and of the world.
– Andrés Manuel (@lopezobrador_) January 8, 2023
Argentina
Argentine President Alberto Fernandez said on Twitter that “his and the Argentine people’s support for Lula is unconditional in the face of this coup attempt.”
Chile
“The Brazilian government has our full support in confronting this cowardly and despicable attack on democracy,” Chilean President Gabriel Boric said on Twitter.
For its part, the Chilean government called for a special session of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States.
Venezuela, Cuba and Bolivia
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro condemned what he called “neo-fascist groups” seeking to oust Lula from power.
For his part, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel expressed his solidarity and condemned what he described as anti-democratic actions aimed at “creating chaos and disrespecting the popular will.”
In turn, Bolivia’s Foreign Minister Rogelio Maita said that the events in Brazil showed that Latin America faces the challenge of “defending our democracies by preventing the triumph of hate speech, fratricidal violence and anti-democratic actions.”
European Union
European Council President Charles Michel expressed his “absolute condemnation” of hundreds of Bolsonaro supporters storming the headquarters of Congress, the presidency and the Supreme Court in Brasilia.
“Full support to President Lula da Silva, who was democratically elected by millions of Brazilians following fair and free elections,” he wrote on Twitter.
My absolute condemnation of the assault on the democratic institutions of Brazil.
Full support for President @LulaOficial Da Silva, democratically elected by millions of Brazilians through fair and free elections.
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) January 8, 2023
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell echoed the sentiment, saying he was “devastated” by the actions of “violent extremists”. “Brazilian democracy will prevail over violence and extremism,” he wrote on Twitter.
Appalled by the acts of violence and illegal occupation of Brasilia’s government quarter by violent extremists today.
Full support to @LulaOfficial and his government, to Congress and to the Federal Supreme Court.
Brazilian democracy will prevail over violence and extremism.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) January 8, 2023
In turn, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, said she was “very concerned”. “Democracy must always be respected,” she wrote on Twitter in Portuguese, adding that the European Parliament stands “by Lula’s side and all legitimate and democratically elected institutions.”
Deeply concerned regarding what is happening in the #Brazil.
Democracy must always be respected.@Europarl_EN is on the side of the government @LulaOficial and all legitimate and democratically elected institutions.
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— Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) January 8, 2023
France
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday called for “respect for democratic institutions” in Brazil, stressing France’s “unwavering support” for President Lula.
In turn, the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Paris condemns in the “strongest terms” the acts of violence once morest three democratic institutions in Brazil.
For his part, the former presidential candidate, the radical leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon, accused, via Twitter, the Brazilian “far-right” of “attempting a coup once morest the new leftist President Lula, similar to what Trump did.”
Italy
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Twitter that the attack in Brazil “might not leave us indifferent”.
The far-right leader added that such an attack on government headquarters is “unacceptable and does not correspond to any form of democratic opposition,” calling for “the return of things to normal.”
