Crazy scenes – Bolsonaro supporters storm the convention center in the capital Brasilia. Selenskyj’s office warns of false reports from corpses

Supporters of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro stormed the congress in the capital Brasilia. They smashed the windows of the facade and entered the entrance hall, as was shown on Globo TV on Sunday. Hundreds of demonstrators had previously entered the parliament building and climbed onto the roof of the building. Police used pepper spray and stun grenades but failed to stop supporters of former right-wing leader Bolsonaro.

“I condemn these anti-democratic acts, which must be urgently punished with the harshness of the law,” Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco wrote on Twitter. “I spoke with 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 getting the situation under control.”

Following the attack on Congress, Bolsonaro supporters also moved to the Supreme Court. The news portal G1 reported that they smashed windows and entered the lobby. Later, they accordingly moved to the government seat of Palácio do Planalto.

The right-wing president Bolsonaro lost in the second round to left-wing politician Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva last October and left office around the turn of the year. He had never explicitly acknowledged his electoral defeat. Even after the election, radical supporters of the ex-serviceman had repeatedly protested Lula’s victory and called on the country’s armed forces to stage a military coup.

Contrary to custom, Bolsonaro did not attend the inauguration of his successor Lula on New Year’s Day and flew to the United States with his family.

Brazil’s ruling party accuses federal district of failure

Following an attack on government buildings by radical supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, the leader of the ruling Workers’ Party (PT) has leveled serious accusations against those responsible in the capital, Brasília. “The federal district government was irresponsible to the invasion of Brasília and the National Congress,” Gleisi Hoffmann wrote on Twitter on Sunday. “It was a declared crime against democracy, against the will of the voters and for other interests. The governor and his secretary of security, a Bolsonaro supporter, are responsible for everything that happens.”

(first/sda/dpa)