European Parliament condemns storming of key institutions in Brazil's capital

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ISTANBUL (AA) - European Parliament (EP) on Monday condemned the "heinous attack on the heart of Brazilian democracy" by supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil's capital, Brasilia.

"We strongly condemn yesterday’s violent and illegal storming of the Congress, the Presidential Palace and the Supreme Court of Justice in Brasilia by supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro. This was an inacceptable and heinous attack on the heart of Brazilian democracy, whose perpetrators and instigators must be punished with the full force of the law," lead MEPs said in a joint statement.

Expressing "full" solidarity with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, they said results of "fair and transparent elections" must be respected.

"We are concerned about the increasing acts of political violence by extremist supporters of Brazil's former president, which directly promote speeches and actions that move to confrontation, hatred, radicalization and even crime," they said.

The lead MEPs include Chair of the EP Foreign Affairs Committee David McAllister, Chair of the Delegation to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly Javi Lopez, Chair of the Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil Jose Manuel Fernandes, and Chair of the Delegation for relations with Mercosur Jordi Canas.

On Sunday, hundreds of supporters of Bolsonaro stormed the National Congress building while shouting slogans and demanding intervention by the army after breaking through a police barrier and entering the legislature.

Bolsonaro supporters also managed to invade and ransack the Planalto Palace, or President's office, and the Supreme Federal Court, according to Brazil news portal G1.

Lula was sworn in for a third term as Brazil's president in the capital Brasilia on Jan. 1. On Oct. 30, 2022, he beat far-right Bolsonaro in a tight race, garnering 50.9% of the vote compared with Bolsonaro’s 49.1%, according to Brazil's Supreme Electoral Court.