Riots in Brazil

On Sunday, January 8th, 2023 supporters of Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro descended upon both the congress building and the presidential palace on claims of election fraud and to oust the new President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva known as “Lula.” 

As of January 10th, 2023, more than 1,500 rioters have been detained, Bolsonaro is currently in the United States in a Florida hospital receiving care for a stab wound he suffered in late 2018 while camping. Bolsonaro belongs to the Liberal party, which is Brazil’s conservative party, while Lula belongs to the workers’ party in brazil, which is more of a left-wing political party.

Many people are drawing comparisons to the January 6th riots, a similar situation that took place in 2021 when supporters of the 45th President Donald J. Trump descended on the capital and broke into the building, calling to halt the shift of power from Trump to the current president Biden on the pretext of election fraud. Was this the inspiration or was it bound to happen?

The January 6th riots are a dark shadow left behind in recent United States history, some have argued it was fueled further by Donald Trump, calling for him to be charged with the crimes. Although he didn’t tell his supporters to riot directly, a speech he gave prior to the riot certainly may have stirred up violence. A similar parallel can be drawn with the Brazilian former president Bolsonaro, who seemed to add fuel to already high political tension in brazil by claiming the loss was false and that he had actually won the election. Bolsonaros supporters broke windows and caused serious damage to the three buildings which were rioted upon.

Political tensions were already previously high, but now they are fanatical.