Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has declared that there will be no amnesty for the supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro who participated in the riots that took place in the capital a year ago. As Brazil commemorated the first anniversary of the attacks, President Lula emphasized the need to protect the country’s democracy.
Speaking at a ceremony attended by top officials from all branches of government, Lula stated, “Those who financed, planned, and carried out this coup attempt must be held accountable and punished. There can be no forgiveness for those who attack democracy.” He emphasized that granting amnesty would be seen as impunity, which could encourage further terrorist attacks on the nation. According to Lula, democracy must be continuously built and safeguarded.
The riots occurred just one week after Lula returned to office, following his victory over Bolsonaro in the previous October’s election. Bolsonaro’s supporters, fueled by his claims of election fraud, stormed the Congress, presidential palace, and Supreme Court buildings, reminiscent of the US Capitol invasion by supporters of then-President Donald Trump two years prior.
Bolsonaro, currently under investigation for allegedly instigating the unrest, denies any involvement and has labeled the events as a left-wing setup. Lula referred to the former president as a “coup-monger” in his speech, highlighting Bolsonaro’s relentless efforts to cast doubt on the credibility of Brazil’s electronic voting system.
The aftermath of the riots continues, with new raids carried out by the police to apprehend those responsible for planning and financing the attacks. Out of the 2,170 individuals arrested, 30 have been convicted so far, facing charges such as armed criminal conspiracy, violent uprising against the rule of law, and attempted coup, with sentences of up to 17 years.
While Brazil’s divisions may appear less extreme on the surface due to the backlash against the riots and Bolsonaro’s disqualification from running for office, deep-rooted divisions persist. A recent poll suggests that 51 percent believe the riots were orchestrated by radicals who do not represent Bolsonaro supporters.
At a ceremony titled “Democracy Unbowed,” a restored tapestry by Brazilian artist Roberto Burle Marx, which had been torn and defiled during the riots, was presented. Additionally, a replica of the constitution, taken from the Supreme Court, was symbolically returned. However, the display of democratic unity was marred by the absence of notable right-wing figures.
As the anniversary approached, there were calls on social media to celebrate January 8 as “Patriot’s Day” and take to the streets. Nevertheless, thousands of people in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro demonstrated to celebrate and defend democracy while rejecting the events of last year in Brasilia.
“The extreme right cannot advance. If it advances here, it advances around the world,” remarked Jorge Louis Viera de Souza, a 72-year-old retiree who participated in the Rio demonstration. He expressed relief that Brazil had stepped back from the brink of chaos a year ago.
(Note: This article has been edited for clarity and to remove the prompt.)
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