Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro has been hospitalized in the US state of Florida a day after his supporters stormed the government building to protest his election victory last year.
His wife Michelle Bolsonaro wrote on Instagram, “He is under observation in the hospital due to abdominal discomfort resulting from the murderous attack he suffered in 2018.”
Mr. Bolsonaro
Mr. Bolsonaro earlier on Monday denied accusations by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva that he had incited Sunday’s assault on Brazil’s seat of power in Brasilia.
Supporters of Mr. Bolsonaro, who has yet to concede the election held in October, invaded the Congress, Supreme Court, and presidential palace buildings in Brasilia on Sunday. At least one police vehicle was burnt.
The rioters, some carrying the national flag, smashed windows and threw furniture in scenes reminiscent of January 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol after former president Donald Trump’s election loss.
The Constitution
“Throughout my mandate, I have always been within the four lines of the constitution, respecting and defending the laws, democracy, transparency and our sacred freedom,” Mr Bolsonaro wrote on Twitter.
Manifestação conjunta dos presidentes dos Poderes da República, assinada na manhã de hoje, em repúdio aos atos golpistas de ontem em Brasília. #EquipeLula pic.twitter.com/p6dOtuh8S6
— Lula (@LulaOficial) January 9, 2023
He said that while peaceful demonstrations are “part of democracy”, the invasion of public buildings was not.
At least 1,200 people have been detained, the Ministry of Justice said on Monday. Mr da Silva said that those connected to the attack “will be found and punished”.
The riots in Brasilia, the administrative capital, come after weeks of protests by Bolsonaro supporters. Who refuse to recognize the election victory by Mr da Silva, who was inaugurated last week.
The crowds were eventually dispersed by police, but they left behind messages scrawled on the walls. Including a call for “military intervention” and one lamenting the “destitution” of the three branches of government.
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Bolsonaro supporters storm Brazil Congress and the presidential palace
In a joint statement with both houses of Congress and the Supreme Court’s chief justice. Mr da Silva on Monday condemned Mr. Bolsonaro’s supporters.
The three branches of government condemned the riots as “terrorist acts and criminal, coup-mongering vandalism”.
“We are united so that institutional measures are taken under the terms of Brazilian laws,” the statement said.
Lower House Speaker Arthur Lira
Mr da Silva also shared a picture of him with Lower House Speaker Arthur Lira. Acting Senate President Veneziano Vital do Rego and Chief Justice Rosa Weber at Planalto Palace.
The government had given protesters until noon local time to leave the site, Reuters reported.
Mr da Silva accused Mr. Bolsonaro of inciting the attack through his speeches.
“There are several speeches by the former president encouraging this. And this is also his responsibility and the parties that supported him,” he wrote on Twitter.
“They took advantage of the silence on Sunday, while we are still setting up the government, to do what they did.”
The President, who was visiting the flood-hit city of Araraquara in the south-eastern state of Sao Paulo, flew back to Brasilia to oversee the response to what he called a “fascist” attack.