Ione Wells

And he's vowed to rebuild Brazil, which he said was in a terrible state, terrible ruins, since Bolsonaro had been in power.

And he's vowed to rebuild Brazil, which he said was in a terrible state, terrible ruins, since Bolsonaro had been in power.

No, he wasn't at that ceremony. He had left Brazil a time and had gone to Florida, which I think some of his supporters were a bit disappointed by, that he was sort of seen by some as a sort of sulking, but others felt very much still that they had his back. They were going to protest this result.

No, he wasn't at that ceremony. He had left Brazil a time and had gone to Florida, which I think some of his supporters were a bit disappointed by, that he was sort of seen by some as a sort of sulking, but others felt very much still that they had his back. They were going to protest this result.

A week after that inauguration ceremony, loads of Bolsonaro supporters were bussed into Brasilia wearing their flagship Brazil green and yellow football shirts, which is sort of much to the dislike of left-wing football fans, has sort of become the de facto uniform of Bolsonaro supporters in Brazil.

A week after that inauguration ceremony, loads of Bolsonaro supporters were bussed into Brasilia wearing their flagship Brazil green and yellow football shirts, which is sort of much to the dislike of left-wing football fans, has sort of become the de facto uniform of Bolsonaro supporters in Brazil.

They broke into and vandalised government buildings in Brasilia, the Supreme Court, Congress, the presidential palace, seeking to overthrow the new president, even though there was a sort of recess period at the time. So these buildings were actually not very occupied. But the scenes were reminiscent of the January 6th Capitol riots in 2021 in the US after Donald Trump lost that election.

They broke into and vandalised government buildings in Brasilia, the Supreme Court, Congress, the presidential palace, seeking to overthrow the new president, even though there was a sort of recess period at the time. So these buildings were actually not very occupied. But the scenes were reminiscent of the January 6th Capitol riots in 2021 in the US after Donald Trump lost that election.

Some rioters said publicly that their purpose was to encourage the military to join them, effectively calling for a coup. And President Lula himself also wasn't in Brasilia at the time. He was in Sao Paulo state, but he declared an emergency, a sort of state of emergency, essentially, before dispatching the National Guard to Brasilia to try to restore order.

Some rioters said publicly that their purpose was to encourage the military to join them, effectively calling for a coup. And President Lula himself also wasn't in Brasilia at the time. He was in Sao Paulo state, but he declared an emergency, a sort of state of emergency, essentially, before dispatching the National Guard to Brasilia to try to restore order.

There were lots of clashes between police and these protesters before the police eventually managed to control the situation. Since then, there have been ongoing... legal battles with some of these protesters. Again, a bit of a parallel there with the US. Lula has called the riots terrorist acts, said that those who took part in it would be punished.

There were lots of clashes between police and these protesters before the police eventually managed to control the situation. Since then, there have been ongoing... legal battles with some of these protesters. Again, a bit of a parallel there with the US. Lula has called the riots terrorist acts, said that those who took part in it would be punished.

And in the end, more than 1500 people were detained, some of them even given jail sentences. But what is interesting is this case now has really, it's still very much part of the dialogue here in Brazil because of questions about Bolsonaro's involvement in it.

And in the end, more than 1500 people were detained, some of them even given jail sentences. But what is interesting is this case now has really, it's still very much part of the dialogue here in Brazil because of questions about Bolsonaro's involvement in it.

That's right. He said he had no responsibility. He said it was wrong that people were protesting in that way. And of course, physically, he was in a different country at the time in Florida. So on the surface claimed that he was distancing himself from what his supporters were doing.

That's right. He said he had no responsibility. He said it was wrong that people were protesting in that way. And of course, physically, he was in a different country at the time in Florida. So on the surface claimed that he was distancing himself from what his supporters were doing.

Yeah, definitely. I think the reason why the mention of a coup or the call for a coup in Brazil is very troubling still, and actually Latin America more generally, is that military dictatorships are not distant history here. The military dictatorship in Brazil was in place until 1985. And that was caused by the Brazilian army at the time and conservative sectors of society and

Yeah, definitely. I think the reason why the mention of a coup or the call for a coup in Brazil is very troubling still, and actually Latin America more generally, is that military dictatorships are not distant history here. The military dictatorship in Brazil was in place until 1985. And that was caused by the Brazilian army at the time and conservative sectors of society and

Some politicians, but also some figures from the Catholic Church with support from the US initiating that coup to overthrow the governments at the time. And what resulted was years of extensive censorship of human rights abuses, torture, extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances. Very, very traumatic period of time for many in Brazil until eventually democracy elections were restored.

Some politicians, but also some figures from the Catholic Church with support from the US initiating that coup to overthrow the governments at the time. And what resulted was years of extensive censorship of human rights abuses, torture, extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances. Very, very traumatic period of time for many in Brazil until eventually democracy elections were restored.