BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazil’s Supreme Court has ruled Brasilia on security flaws after allowing thousands of supporters of far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro to search government buildings in the capital. Banished the governor for 90 days.
Tens of thousands of anti-democratic protesters stormed the Supreme Court, Congress and the presidential palace on Sunday, sparking the worst attack on Brazilian institutions since democracy was restored 40 years ago and sparking global condemnation.
President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, who took office on January 1 after winning the October elections by a narrow margin, said protesters had smashed windows and furniture, destroyed works of art, and overturned the 1988 constitution. After stealing, he vowed to bring those responsible to justice.The gun was seized from the president’s security office.
As well as removing the Brasilia governor for 90 days late on Sunday, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and TikTok to block accounts of users spreading anti-democratic propaganda.
Lula decreed federal intervention of public security in the capital and promised exemplary punishment for the leaders of the “fascist” assault that was aimed at provoking a military coup that could restore Bolsonaro to power.
Lula blamed Bolsonaro for inflaming his supporters after a campaign of baseless allegations about election fraud after the end of his rule marked by divisive nationalist populism.
From Florida, where Bolsonaro flew 48 hours before his term ended, the former president rejected the accusation. He said on Twitter that peaceful demonstrations were democratic but the invasion of government buildings “crossed the line.”
The assault raised questions among Lula’s allies about how security forces in the capital were so unprepared and easily overwhelmed by rioters who had discussed plans on social media for days about gathering for weekend demonstrations. The invasion commemorating the attack on the US Capitol two years ago by supporters of former President Donald Trump has been condemned by world leaders, from US President Joe Biden to European and Latin American leaders.
Bolsonaro Supporters Loot Brazil’s Presidential Palace, Congress, Brasilia’s Supreme Court
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia “strongly condemns” the actions of those who instigated the unrest.
The Brazilian market is expected to take a hit when it opens on Monday.
Three hours later, police reclaimed the destroyed public buildings of the future capital and dispersed the crowd with tear gas.
Justice Minister Flavio Dino said 200 protesters had been arrested. Governor Rocha took to Twitter before the court announced his move, putting the number at 400.
The occupation of government buildings had been planned for at least two weeks by Bolsonaro’s supporters in groups on his platforms such as Telegram and Twitter, but security forces took no steps to stop the attack.
News seen by Reuters during the week showed that members of such groups had organized assembly halls in several cities across the country, from which charter buses departed for Brasilia with the aim of occupying public buildings..
The plan called for camping outside the army headquarters where protesters have camped since Lula won his October election by a narrow margin.
When the protesters arrived at Brasilia’s Esplanade early Sunday afternoon, they were uncontained and escorted by military police vehicles with flashing blue lights.
Riot police did not arrive on the scene until he was two hours after the break-in began.
