Thousands of supporters of Brazil’s former president, Jair Bolsonaro, stormed the nation’s Congress and presidential offices on Sunday as they protested what they claimed was a stolen election.
The breach comes after Bolsonaro repeatedly attacked the integrity of the country’s recent presidential elections, in which Bolsonaro lost to leftist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Lula was inaugurated last week.
The demonstrators overran security barriers, climbed on roofs, and vandalized the buildings, the Associated Press reported.
Bolsonaro, who has been hiding out in Florida in recent weeks, has not yet made any comments condemning the incident.
“This absurd attempt to impose their will by force will not prevail,” said Justice Minister Flavio Dino on his Twitter account. “The government of the Federal District has ensured there will be reinforcements. And the forces at our disposal are at work.”
Essa absurda tentativa de impor a vontade pela força não vai prevalecer. O Governo do Distrito Federal afirma que haverá reforços. E as forças de que dispomos estão agindo. Estou na sede do Ministério da Justiça.
— Flávio Dino 🇧🇷 (@FlavioDino) January 8, 2023
Brazil’s Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco wrote on Twitter that Brazilian officials are focused on using the full extent of the law to get the situation under control.
Pacheco tweeted, “I vehemently repudiate these anti-democratic acts, which must urgently undergo the rigor of the law.”
Na ação, estão empenhadas as forças de segurança do Distrito Federal, alem da Polícia Legislativa do Congresso. Repudio veementemente esses atos antidemocráticos, que devem sofrer o rigor da lei com urgência.
— Rodrigo Pacheco (@rodrigopacheco) January 8, 2023
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted on Sunday, “We condemn the attacks on Brazil’s Presidency, Congress, and Supreme Court today. Using violence to attack democratic institutions is always unacceptable. We join @lulaoficial in urging an immediate end to these actions.”
We condemn the attacks on Brazil's Presidency, Congress, and Supreme Court today. Using violence to attack democratic institutions is always unacceptable. We join @lulaoficial in urging an immediate end to these actions.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 8, 2023
Bolsonaro, who is now reportedly facing investigations since he has lost immunity from prosecution because he is no longer the country’s president, has claimed that the results of his election were fraudulent.
Sunday’s uprising will likely benefit leftists and the new Lula administration because they will use it to justify parts of the agenda that they are pushing, political analysts suggested online.
Radicais brincando com o patrimônio público! Invadiram o plenário do Senado Federal 👇 pic.twitter.com/0Oq47VDQVI
— Murilo Fagundes (@muriloffagundes) January 8, 2023
⚠️ Bolsonaristas invadem o Congresso Nacional em manifestação antidemocrática pic.twitter.com/fpLp7TThD2
— Metrópoles (@Metropoles) January 8, 2023
Apoiadores de Jair Bolsonaro colocam fogo no Congresso Nacional. pic.twitter.com/XhE8r3GiwF
— Metrópoles (@Metropoles) January 8, 2023
A destruição do @STF_oficial visto por dentro. Atos de terroristas a mando do ex-presidente Jair Bolsonaro causam intensa desordem na Capital. pic.twitter.com/uLv2miPYWB
— George Marques 🇧🇷 (@GeorgMarques) January 8, 2023
URGENTE: Invasores quebram vidraças da chapelaria do Congresso e invadem a Câmara dos Deputados. Extremistas já estão no Salão Verde e nos anexos do prédio. Também houve invasão ao Palácio do Planalto. Presidente Lula não está no local. pic.twitter.com/lP91pLqTuf
— Renato Souza (@reporterenato) January 8, 2023
ATENTADOS EM BRASÍLIA: Prédio do STF tem o andar térreo e o plenário complemente destruídos. Servidores da segurança foram ameaçados e documentos oficiais podem ter sido extraviados. Vídeo: George Marques. pic.twitter.com/NAPmiJqvms
— Renato Souza (@reporterenato) January 8, 2023
O plenário do @STF_oficial completamente destruído por terroristas a mando do Bolsonaro pic.twitter.com/NiU076FhWY
— George Marques 🇧🇷 (@GeorgMarques) January 8, 2023
Editor’s note: This article has been expanded to include additional information.