Brazil Also Faces 'Angry Politics'... Mob Storms Legislature

US Closely Watching Situation, "Condemns Attempts to Undermine Democracy"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Thousands of protesters supporting former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the Brazilian Congress, Supreme Court, and the presidential office, causing riots by shouting election denial slogans and damaging property.

According to the New York Times (NYT) and others on the 8th (local time), dozens of protesters who rushed into the presidential office in the capital Brasilia climbed over barricades set up by the police, smashed doors and windows, and broke into the office.

Outside the Congress, groups of protesters assaulted police and security personnel with sticks and poles. When helicopters deployed for suppression fired ammunition and tear gas, the rioters entered the Congress and Supreme Court buildings.

They then threw furniture and caused damage to the floors by applying force, leaving the interior in disarray. They destroyed meeting room facilities, sat in the speaker's chair, and caused chaos in the area.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Protesters draped in the Brazilian flag or dressed in yellow and green, the colors of the flag, climbed onto the building's roof and displayed a Portuguese banner reading "Interven??o," meaning "intervention," calling for a military coup by the Brazilian army.

The police attempted to disperse the protesters by firing tear gas, but according to the Associated Press, some police and security personnel were assaulted, making it difficult to suppress the protesters.

President Luiz In?cio Lula da Silva, who took office on the 1st, was visiting Araraquara, a flood-affected area from late last year, and did not confront the rioters, the NYT reported. The federal government issued an emergency order to take all necessary measures to restore order against the rioters.

This incident unfolded like a replay of the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, where supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed election denial and stormed the Capitol.

Since the October presidential election last year, where President Lula won the runoff with a narrow margin of "50.9% to 49.1%," Bolsonaro supporters have set up so-called "patriotic camps" in front of major military bases in Brasilia and held protests opposing Lula's inauguration, showing signs of election denial.

The international community criticized the riots in Brazil as an attack on democracy and stated they are closely monitoring the situation.

Jake Sullivan, U.S. National Security Advisor, tweeted, "The United States condemns all attempts to undermine democracy in Brazil," adding, "Our support for Brazil's democratic institutions will remain unwavering, and President Joe Biden is closely monitoring the situation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.