Protests by supporters of ousted President Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil have escalated. Demonstrators stormed and vandalized the Parliament building and then proceeded to the Presidential Palace.
In the Brazilian capital Brasilia, supporters of former ultra-right President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the National Congress, seat of the two chambers of parliament, on Sunday afternoon (local time).
Parliament stormed in Brazil
Television images from CNN Brasil showed hundreds of people in and around the building complex, in the immediate vicinity of which is the presidential palace. This and the Supreme Court were also attacked, according to news agencies on Sunday evening (CET). According to the pictures, the intruders caused severe devastation in the National Congress. According to a photographer from the DPA news agency, the police, who were initially outnumbered, used tear gas, but were unable to stop the attackers.
“I condemn these anti-democratic acts that urgently need to be punished with the harshness of the law,” Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco wrote on Twitter. “I spoke to the governor of the federal district, Ibaneis Rocha, with whom I am in regular contact. The governor informed me that the entire police force is focused on bringing the situation under control.”
The head of the ruling Workers’ Party (PT) also spoke out and raised serious allegations against those responsible in the capital Brasilia. “The federal district government was irresponsible in the face of the invasion of Brasilia and the National Congress,” Gleisi Hoffmann wrote on Twitter on Sunday. “It was an announced crime against democracy, against the will of voters and for other interests. The governor and his secretary of security, a Bolsonaro supporter, are responsible for everything that happens.”
Brasilia security chief fired after storming Congress
The security chief of the capital Brasilia, Anderson Torres, was immediately fired. “I have decided to dismiss the Minister of Security of the Federal District and at the same time have sent all security forces into the streets to arrest and punish those responsible,” Federal District Governor Ibaneis Rocha wrote on Twitter. “I’m in Brasilia to observe the demonstrations and take all measures to curb the anti-democratic riots in the government district.” The sacked Torres is considered a supporter of Bolsonaro, whom he previously served as justice minister.
The left Bolsonaro successor Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who only took office at the turn of the year, is reportedly in São Paulo. In the past, the Bolsonaro camp had repeatedly questioned the new president’s election victory in early October – without presenting any evidence. They repeatedly called on the country’s armed forces for a military coup.
Editor’s note: This article has been continuously updated.
Sources: , news agencies DPA and AFP
Source: Stern
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