Today, Monday, the Brazilian security forces broke up the sit-in of supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro in the capital, Brasilia, after thousands of them stormed - yesterday, Sunday - sovereign headquarters, and while President Lula da Silva vowed to hold accountable those he described as putschists, these events were met with widespread international condemnation.

Military and security forces removed the tents from the sit-in near the army headquarters in Brasilia, and Bolsonaro's supporters were calling for the army's intervention to prevent Da Silva from assuming power after winning by a slight margin in the two-round presidential elections last October.

Security forces carried out searches at the site after cordoning it off, and the protesters were transported on government buses, in preparation for their prosecution, according to Brazilian media.

In what was described as the worst attack since the restoration of democratic order in Brazil, the president's supporters stormed Sunday the headquarters of the presidency, the federal parliament and the Supreme Court, and vandalized many of their contents.

After hours of chaos, the security forces regained control of the headquarters of power, ending the first attack of its kind on state institutions in 40 years.

After returning to Brasilia from the state of Sao Paulo, President Lula da Silva resumed work today, Monday, in the "Planalto" palace and discussed the situation with members of his government, army leaders and security services.

Despite the end of the sit-in near the army headquarters in Brasilia, Bolsonaro supporters still carry out sporadic protests, including blocking roads in separate areas.

Da Silva during his meeting with members of his government and the Supreme Court at the Presidential Palace (French)

"Terrorist and coup acts"

In a joint statement they issued today, Monday, the Brazilian president and the presidents of the Senate, the House of Representatives and the Supreme Court condemned the storming of power headquarters and the destruction of their contents, describing what happened as terrorist, subversive, criminal and coup acts.

Da Silva considered what happened as a coup attempt and blamed Bolsonaro, who left for the United States two days before the inauguration of the new president on the first of this month, and still refuses to acknowledge his defeat in the elections.

The Brazilian president also vowed that those involved in storming public institutions would be held accountable, describing them as Nazis and fascists, accusing the local police force in Brasilia of inaction. This force is under the jurisdiction of the governor of the province of Brasilia, Ibañes Rocha, an ally of the former president.

However, former President Jair Bolsonaro rejected the accusations leveled against him by President Lula da Silva, and said - in a tweet on Twitter - that peaceful demonstrations are part of democracy, but storming public buildings is a transgression, as he put it.

People are being protected!

Brazilian army does not allow cops to arrest patriots 💪

#Brazil #brazilie #BrazilCoup #BrazilianCensorship #Brasil #Brasile #Brasilia #RiodeJaneiro pic.twitter.com/hwZ4dSOlzo

— CBKNEWS (@CBKNEWS121) January 9, 2023

Washington clarifies about Bolsonaro

In Washington, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said today, Monday, that the United States had not received any official request from the Brazilian government regarding Bolsonaro, who is believed to be currently residing in Florida.

Sullivan added - in statements he made during President Joe Biden's visit to the border with Mexico - that there is no direct communication between US officials and Bolsonaro, saying that the democratic institutions in Brazil appear to be cohesive.

The Reuters news agency said that the former Brazilian president was hospitalized in the United States after suffering from abdominal pain.

Video clips spread on social media showing vandalism in the offices of Brazilian parliamentarians, and a demonstrator sitting on the seat of the Senate president, in scenes reminiscent of the storming of the Congressional Building by supporters of former US President Donald Trump in Washington in January 2021.

While the Supreme Court suspended the governor of Brasilia province from work for 90 days, the Brazilian Attorney General announced the arrest of the province's security minister and the opening of an investigation to determine those involved in the violence.

While close to Bolsonaro - including the head of the Liberal Party - distanced themselves from the storming, the attack raised questions among Lula da Silva's allies about the position of the security forces in the capital, which were completely unprepared for these protests, although the protesters had been discussing their plans for days on the media. Social gathering for a rally over the weekend.


International solidarity

Internationally, the reactions were supportive of Brazilian President Lula da Silva, as it denounced the storming of former President Jair Bolsonaro's supporters into the headquarters of power.

US President Joe Biden denounced what he described as an outrageous attack on democracy in Brazil, and Biden expressed his aspiration to work with President da Silva.

The leaders of Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Venezuela, Cuba and the Organization of American States also expressed their solidarity with the Brazilian president, and expressed their condemnation of the storming of government headquarters in Brasilia.

The European Union also expressed its shock at the actions of what it described as violent extremists, stressing its full support for President Lula da Silva and all legitimate and democratically elected institutions in Brazil.

For his part, French President Emmanuel Macron called for respect for democratic institutions in Brazil, stressing France's unwavering support for President Lula da Silva.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak - what he called it - denounced the attempt to undermine the peaceful transfer of power and the democratic will of the Brazilian people, while German Chancellor Olaf Schultz said that the coordinated riots are an attack on democracy that cannot be tolerated.

In turn, the Kremlin announced Russia's strong condemnation of what it described as the actions of instigators of unrest, stressing its full support for President da Silva.

A similar position was also issued by Turkey, which expressed its solidarity with the Brazilian president, his government and his people against acts of violence, and called for respect for the election results and democratic processes that reflect the will of the people in Brazil.