Andrew Downie

Can Lula use the pro-Bolsonaro riots to unite Brazil?

Lula da Silva, President of Brazil (Credit: Getty images)

A week is a long time in politics. Just ask Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. 

On 1 January this year he was greeted by adoring crowds at Brasilia’s presidential palace after being sworn in for a four-year term. Seven days later that same building had been overrun by far-right insurrectionists intent on overthrowing him. The incredible scenes in Brasilia were almost a carbon copy of the Trump insurrection of 6 January 2021, bar a few key details. 

First, the North America mob wanted to prevent Joe Biden taking power. In Brazil, Lula was already in office, having replaced Jair Bolsonaro after winning a narrow election victory in October.

Second, hundreds of those who marched on the Brazilian capital were arrested. Lula has vowed to use the full force of the law to bring them and their financial backers to justice.

And most importantly, the Brazilian insurrection was multi-pronged and more serious than the DC version.

Written by
Andrew Downie
Andrew Downie is a Scots-born correspondent who has spent nearly 30 years in Latin America, much of them in Brazil. He currently divides his time between São Paulo and Madrid

Topics in this article

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in