Brazil: The main international reactions to the invasion of Bolsonaro’s supporters in government buildings

Hundreds of followers of the Brazilian far-right ex-president Zach Bolsonaro stormed Congress, the presidential palace and the Supreme Court yesterday Sunday, just a week after new center-left president Lula took office, whose election they refuse to recognize.

The following are the main reactions at the international level, as collected by APE-MPE.

USA

The American president Joe Biden he expressed himself monotonously when asked by journalists about the events in Brasilia: he called the violence of the Bolsonaros “outrageous” during his visit to Texas (south), a few hours before he left for Mexico.

Then, via Twitter, he condemned this “attack on democracy and the peaceful transfer of power”, adding that “the democratic institutions of Brazil have our full support and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined”, while underlining that he longs to continue his “collaboration” with Lula.

I condemn the assault on democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power in Brazil. Brazil’s democratic institutions have our full support and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined. I look forward to continuing to work with @LulaOfficial.

— President Biden (@POTUS) January 8, 2023

Mexico

The Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador expressed his support for Lula. “Condemnable and anti-democratic coup attempt by conservatives in Brazil”, he emphasized via Twitter and added: “Lula is not alone, he has the support of the progressive forces in his country, in Mexico, in the Americas and around the world”.

Reprobable and anti-democratic is the coup attempt of the conservatives of Brazil fueled by the leadership of the oligarchic power, their voceros and fanatics. Lula is not alone, he has the support of the progressive forces of his country, of Mexico, of the American continent and of the world.

— Andrés Manuel (@lopezobrador_) January 8, 2023

Canada

The Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau he underlined via Twitter that “respect for the democratic will of the people is capital in any democracy — including Brazil” and added: “We reaffirm our support for President Lula.”

Respecting the democratic will of the people is paramount in any democracy – including Brazil. Canada strongly condemns the violent behavior on display there today, and we reaffirm our support for President @LulaOfficial and Brazil’s democratic institutions.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 9, 2023

Argentina

The Argentine president Alberto Fernandez he also expressed via Twitter his “unconditional support and that of the Argentine people for Lula” speaking of a coup attempt by “ghosts” who must not be allowed “never again” to overthrow Brazil’s government.

Let us demonstrate with firmness and unity our total adherence to the Gobierno elegido democraticamente por los brasileños que encabeza el presidente @LulaOfficial.

— Alberto Fernández (@alferdez) January 8, 2023

Cuba

The Cuban president Miguel Diaz-Canel condemned the actions aimed at “causing chaos and trampling on the popular will”, stressing that “the Bolsonarians imitate the Trumpists‘, who stormed the federal Capitol in Washington two years ago.

These images of vandalism, destruction and violence have been seen before. Negados a reconocer un triunfo de la alternativa, los bolsonaristas de #Brasil son émulos de los trumpistas que asaltaron el Capitolio de #Washington. #NoAlGolpe. Solidaridad total con @LulaOfficial https://t.co/QvMYkLZ9Kk

— Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) January 8, 2023

Bolivia

“Fascists will always seek to take by force what they could not secure at the polls,” Bolivian President Luis Arce commented on Twitter.

We strongly condemn the assault on the Congress, Palacio y Tribunal Supremo de #Brasil por parte de grupos antidemocráticos. Los fascistas siempre buscarán tomar por la fuerza lo que no logaron en las urnas. Our solidarity with the Brazilian people and the president @LulaOfficial

— Luis Alberto Arce Catacora (Lucho Arce) (@LuchoXBolivia) January 8, 2023

Chile

“The Brazilian government has our full support in the face of this cowardly and despicable attack on democracy,” Chilean President Gabriel Boric said on Twitter.

Impressive attack on the three powers of the Brazilian State by the Bolsonarians.

The government of Brazil has all our support in front of this cowardly and vil attack on democracy.

— Gabriel Boric Font (@GabrielBoric) January 8, 2023

OAK

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) Luis Almagro condemned “the attack against the institutions in Brazil”, which is a “direct attack against democracy”. “These actions are inexcusable and have a fascist nature,” he noted.

Venezuela

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro condemned “in an unequivocal manner the violence of Bolsonaro’s neo-fascist groups” seeking to overthrow the Brazilian president.

European Union

European Council President Charles Michel tweeted his “total condemnation” of the attack and “total support for President Lula da Silva, democratically elected by millions of Brazilians in fair and free elections” in October.

My absolute condemnation of the assault on the democratic institutions of Brazil.

Full support for President @LulaOfficial Da Silva, democratically elected by millions of Brazilians through fair and free elections.

— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) January 8, 2023

This support was also expressed by the head of EU diplomacy, underlining that he was “horrified” by the actions of “violent extremists”. “Brazilian democracy will prevail over violence and extremism,” added Giuseppe Borrell.

European Parliament President Roberta Metzola said she was “deeply concerned” about the incidents, adding “democracy must always be respected,” in a tweet in Portuguese.

France

“The will of the Brazilian people and democratic institutions must be respected! President Lula can account for France’s lack of support,” French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted in French and Portuguese.

The will of the Brazilian people and democratic institutions must be respected! The President @LulaOfficial pode contar com o apoio unconditional da França.

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 8, 2023

“Attacks that constitute an unacceptable questioning of the result of the democratic elections won without any doubt on October 30 (2022) by Mr. Luis Inacio Lula da Silva” spoke of the Center d’Orsay.

Italy

Italy’s far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said via Twitter that “what is happening in Brazil cannot leave us indifferent. The images of the invasion of the institutions are incompatible with any form of democratic protest. The return to normalcy is urgent and we express our solidarity with the Brazilian institutions.”

Quanto accade in Brasile non può lasciarci indifferenti. Le immagini dell’irruzione nelle sedi stituzionali sono accettabili e incompatibili with any form of democratic dissenso. It is urgent to return to normality and express solidarity with all Brazilian institutions.

— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) January 8, 2023

Spain

In a press release that he published, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez emphasized that he supports “the government democratically elected at the polls” and condemns “the actions of groups” that oppose the election results.