States stand behind Lula: Brazil's President: "All vandals will be found and punished"

The scenes are reminiscent of the storming of the US Capitol two years ago: Radical supporters of Brazil's ousted President Bolsonaro forcefully invade Congress, the Supreme Court and the seat of government.

States stand behind Lula: Brazil's President: "All vandals will be found and punished"

The scenes are reminiscent of the storming of the US Capitol two years ago: Radical supporters of Brazil's ousted President Bolsonaro forcefully invade Congress, the Supreme Court and the seat of government. His successor Lula spoke up on Twitter.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has condemned the attack by radical supporters of his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro on government buildings in the capital Brasília. "All vandals will be found and punished," said the head of state. "We will also find out who funded it." By decree, Lula ordered the federal government to take responsibility for public safety in Brasília.

In initial reactions, states in the region supported Lula. His government has Chile's full support in view of the "cowardly, heinous attack on democracy," President Gabriel Boric wrote on Twitter. Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard also wrote on Twitter that his country opposes any attack on democratic institutions.

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro declared: "Fascism has decided on a coup." He called for an emergency meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS). Argentine President Alberto Fernandez also spoke of an attempted coup and offered support. Lula narrowly defeated Bolsonaro in the runoff election at the end of October.

Angry supporters of ex-President Bolsonaro, who was voted out, had stormed Congress, the Supreme Court and the Palácio do Planalto seat of government. TV showed them tearing down roadblocks and pushing back the few police officers. Although the officers used pepper spray and stun grenades, they were unable to stop the attackers.

Right-wing President Bolsonaro lost to left-wing politician Lula in the runoff last October and left office at the turn of the year. He never explicitly acknowledged his defeat. Even after the election, radical supporters of the ex-military had repeatedly protested against Lula's victory and called on the country's armed forces to stage a military coup.