Brazilian President Orders ‘Federal Security Intervention’ After Rioters Damage Government Buildings

Brazilian President Orders ‘Federal Security Intervention’ After Rioters Damage Government Buildings
Protesters, many of whom support Brazilian former President Jair Bolsonaro, surround several governmental buildings as they are confronted by security forces in Brasilia on Jan. 8, 2023. Ton Molina/AFP via Getty Images
Updated:

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva late on Jan. 8 visited the nation’s presidential palace, Congress, and the Supreme Court to assess the damage after rioters breached and defaced the three buildings earlier in the day.

Ongoing post-election demonstrations have played out in Brazil since Oct. 30, 2022, when Lula, a socialist, was declared the winner of the presidential election with 50.9 percent of the vote. He was sworn in on Jan. 1 as president for the third time.