Extremist acts in Brasilia raised the alarm over Lula’s inauguration

Marcela Leiros – Cenarium Magazine

MANAUS – The extremist acts registered after the diplomation ceremony of the president-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), in Brasilia (DF), ignited alerts for what may happen in the inauguration, on January 1, 2023. There is concern that protesters dissatisfied with the election result will promote more violence.

On Monday night, 12, supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) tried to invade the headquarters of the Federal Police (PF), in the federal capital, in protest against the arrest of indigenous leader José Acácio Serere Xavante, pointed out by the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) as one of the members of the anti-democratic acts in Brasilia.

After being repelled by the police, the demonstrators took to other streets of the city and set fire to buses and cars. They also destroyed lampposts and tried to knock a bus off an overpass. Eight vehicles were set on fire and the Fire Department reported having a vehicle stoned.

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On social networks, Internet users shared the fear with the violence that occurred in Brasilia. “I’m seriously thinking of not going to Lula’s inauguration because if only the diplomacy was this chaos, imagine the day 01 and I’m afraid to die”, said @xxrpl, on Twitter.

Lawyer Angélica Maués said on the microblog that she was warned about the risks of going to the inauguration. “Yesterday, I called a friend to go to the inauguration, he said it would be safer to watch from home. I thought it was exaggeration, but no, look, you guys who are going, take care!” she tweeted.

Another social network user also said he was worried about what the Bolsonarists might do on January 1 next year. “I’m wondering what these Bolsonarists will want to do on the first day, at Lula’s inauguration. Tô worried real”, complemented.

Security reinforcement

With the war scenario in Brasilia, the future Minister of Justice of Lula’s government, Flávio Dino (PSB), called a press conference and assured that the president-elect is in “absolute security” and will take office on January 1, 2023. There were rumors that Lula would be removed from the hotel where he was staying in Brasilia.

Dino also said that the Bolsonaro government needs to respond to the acts of vandalism committed by Bolsonaro in the Federal District. “The federal government remains silent before this absurd and serious situation. We do not yet have the pen in hand, I’m talking to Ibaneis [governor of the DF], Andrei [Passos, future director of the PF] with the Public Safety Secretariat of the Federal District, but the federal government needs to give answers,” he said.

The governor of the Federal District, Ibaneis Rocha (MDB), promised to strengthen security and arrest those he called “vandals”. The head of the Executive reported that the Special Operations Battalion (Bope), Operational Tactical Group (Gtop) 5 and 6 were on the streets.

Persistent act

As shown by CENARIUM MAGAZINE, protesters of the antidemocratic act that happens since November 2 in front of the Amazon Military Command (CMA), at Coronel Teixeira Avenue, West zone of the city, received the information of the diplomation without any reaction.

Also read: Even after Lula’s graduation, protesters maintain camp in front of the Amazon Military Command

On the risks of a reaction similar to what happened in Brasilia, public security specialist Hilton Ferreira says he does not see the possibility of radicalization in the antidemocratic act in the Amazon capital.

“I do not see this radicalization here, even because there are 40 days of mobilizations and so far had no occurrence, except that case here in Manaus of a guy who was drunk and tried to run over protesters in the CMA, we had no more serious occurrence “, he explains, still pointing out that does not see systemic organization in the act, but nothing is totally excluded.

“I don’t think anything organized in terms of systemic organization, with entities, willing to fight, I don’t envision, unless something very out of the curve happens, as was the attack of the then candidate Jair Bolsonaro and the arrest of the indigenous man there in Brasilia,” he concludes.

Read also: Radicalism of the extreme right in Brazil will depend on Lula’s performance in government

The acts are considered anti-democratic because they call for federal intervention to stop a legitimately constituted government, according to Law No. 14,197, known as the Law of the democratic rule of law.

PRF takes action

In Rondônia, another state in the Northern Region, the Federal Highway Police (PRF) announced, also on Monday, 12, that it will use riot policing to clear points blocked on the state’s highways by voters still unhappy with the defeat of Jair Bolsonaro (PL) in the presidential election. “They are criminal people and not protesters”, the police said.

Points of BR-364 and BR-435 were closed again last Sunday, 11, and blockades increased the following day. At least four sites remained in this situation in two inland municipalities: Cacoal and Colorado do Oeste. In the morning, the PRF even registered eight interdictions in six cities.

“The PRF will not tolerate any more acts of vandalism and criminal acts by people who claim to be protesters and who, in fact, are criminals”, said police officer and PRF press officer, Antony Montenegro, in a statement made by video.