Calay News
The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, stated in an interview published in the Spanish newspaper El País that Jair Bolsonaro, his far-right successor, tried to carry out a coup with the riots on January 8 in Brasilia. According to Lula, the leftist president, Bolsonaro had planned the coup from the first day of his term and waited a week to act.
The former president also claimed that the far-right president and his team organized everything that happened, including the financing of the buses that transported the protesters. Bolsonaro has denied his involvement in the events and has alleged that the video in which he questions the legitimacy of the 2022 presidential elections was published accidentally.
The riots occurred seven days after Lula took office and came against the backdrop of growing political polarization in the country. Thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded the headquarters of the three state powers in Brasilia, trying to overthrow the Lula government.
The riots resulted in more than 1,800 arrests and a series of investigations and legal proceedings against the alleged perpetrators. Bolsonaro has faced much criticism for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and his controversial political rhetoric. Lula has promised to run in the 2022 presidential elections and has been the favorite in the polls.
