After radical supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the government district in Brasilia, the head of state Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva accused sections of the police and army of collaborating with the violent protesters. Many people within the military police and military forces of the Federal District colluded with the attackers, Lula claims.
For example, the door to the government seat Palácio do Planalto was opened for the violent demonstrators. “We will calmly investigate and find out what really happened,” Lula announced to journalists on Thursday, according to the G1 news portal.
Initially, the police did not intervene
Thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed the government district in Brasilia last Sunday. They briefly seized the control centers of the country’s major government departments, rioting in offices and boardrooms, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. Videos showed police officers talking to Bolsonaro supporters and initially not intervening in the assault on Congress. It took security forces hours to regain control of the situation.
Lula also announced a review of the presidential palace staff. The ex-military Bolsonaro brought numerous officers to government headquarters during his tenure. “We want to see if we can correct that and replace them with professional civil servants so that this becomes a civilian government again,” said the head of state.
Majority blames Bolsonaro
More than half of Brazilians blame Bolsonaro for the attack on the government district. In a survey published Thursday by polling firm Datafolha, 55 percent of respondents said the far-right ex-head of state was behind the storming of Congress, the government session and the Supreme Court by his supporters. 39 percent of those polled said Bolsonaro was not responsible.
Bolsonaro lost the second round to Lula da Silva last October. However, he repeatedly doubted the electoral system and never explicitly admitted defeat. His radical supporters then blocked roads and called on the armed forces to stage a military coup in Bolsonaro’s favour.
Ex-President is in US
Two days before the end of his term of office on New Year’s Day, the ex-serviceman traveled to the US with his family. Lula accused his predecessor of inciting his followers. The former president denied the allegations.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
