The ‘Trump Effect’ exported?
Thousands of supporters of Brazil’s right-wing former president, Jair Bolsonaro, stormed the country’s Congress, Supreme Court and presidential offices on Sunday to protest what they falsely claim was a stolen election. It was the violent culmination of incessant rhetorical attacks on the nation’s electoral systems by Mr. Bolsonaro, who lost a close runoff to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in October.
These are the key developments:
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Protesters in Brasília, the capital, streamed into the presidential offices, with some holding a barricade to hold back police. Protesters also entered the Congress and flew the flag of the Empire of Brazil, which has become a symbol for right-wing protesters, over the building. Others could be seen destroying windows inside the Supreme Court building.
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Soldiers entered the presidential offices as officers in two helicopters fired rubber bullets and tear-gas canisters at the unruly crowd. Local police officials said 150 people had been arrested.
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Mr. Lula, who took office on Jan. 1 after edging Mr. Bolsonaro by less than 2 percentage points in October’s runoff, said Mr. Bolsonaro’s questioning of the election’s legitimacy had “triggered” the assault. Mr. Lula, who was in São Paulo when the protests erupted, signed an emergency decree allowing the federal government to intervene and implement “any measures necessary” to restore order.
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Mr. Bolsonaro has been staying in Florida, where he traveled late last month as his presidency was coming to a close. Since his election loss, his supporters have been camped outside military bases across the country, and had called on the armed forces to take control of the government and halt the inauguration of Mr. Lula…..
Lawmaker Calls On Bolsonaro to Be Extradited
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) said “that ousted Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro should be extradited from Florida after his radical supporters attacked key government institutions in Brasília over the weekend following his election loss,” the Washington Post reports.
Said Castro: “Jair Bolsonaro is in Florida, hanging out with Donald Trump. He’s a dangerous man. They should send him back to his home country of Brazil.”