Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro storm government
Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the seat of the nation's government on Sunday, breaking into Brazil's halls of democracy a week after his successor's inauguration in a scene that echoed the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S Capitol.
Protests by Bolsonaro supporters had been rising ever since he lost his re-election to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, better known as Lula. Bolsonaro falsely claimed widespread voter fraud had booted him out of office, though no evidence of such fraud was uncovered.
The protests reached a fever point when a massive crowd of angry pro-Bolsonarists descended on the government plaza of the capital Brasilia. From there, the crowd was able to bypass security checkpoints and break into the key buildings of all three branches of Brazil's government: the National Congress building, the Supreme Federal Court building, and the Planalto Presidential Palace.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The Brazilian military and anti-riot police were quick to respond to the uprising, and CNN reported that the protesters were attempting to erect barricades within the buildings to stop them from entering.
Lula was in São Paulo at the time, The New York Times reported, and Congress was not in session, meaning the buildings that the protesters broke into were largely empty.
Still, officials quickly called for an end to the violence.
"This absurd attempt to impose their will by force will not prevail," Justice Minister Flavio Dino tweeted. "The government of the Federal District has ensured there will be reinforcements. And the forces at our disposal are at work."
Bolsonaro, who left Brazil for the United States prior to Lula's inauguration, tweeted that "depredations and invasions of public buildings" escaped the rule of public law. Bolsonaro did commit to a peaceful transfer of power, but has stopped short of conceding the election.
This is a breaking news story that has been updated with additional information.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other Hollywood news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
'The Hum': the real-life noise behind The Listeners
In The Spotlight Can some of us also hear the disturbing sound that plagues characters in the hit TV show – and where is it coming from?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: Are we any closer to identifying UFOs?
Podcast Plus, will deals with Tunisia and Kurdistan help Labour? And what next for the Wagner Group?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 16 - 22 November
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By The Week Staff Published
-
'Dead' woman nearly suffocated in morgue bag
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published