Brazil Is Having Its Own Jan. 6 Right Now (archived)

Much like former U.S. President Donald Trump, the right-wing populist Bolsonaro has claimed for years that the country’s elections are riddled with fraud, claims many elections officials, election security experts, and fact-checkers have adamantly refuted. Bolsonaro has even alleged that detractors attempted and failed to steal the election from him in 2018. For weeks since Bolsonaro’s defeat by leftist opponent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Nov. 1, his supporters have been calling for a coup. Trump allies Steve Bannon and Jason Miller have reportedly been advising Bolsonaro since his defeat, and his son, Brazilian congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, has reportedly met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

Video via Mizoto Tv

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Bolsonaro Backers Storm Government Buildings

The three buildings, representing Brazil’s three branches of government, are connected through Three Powers square. Brazilian TV aired footage of the attackers in the palace, per the AP. Bolsonaro, who left Brazil for Florida before Lula took office, did not immediately comment on the violence—evocative of the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol. Aides to former President Donald Trump have met with Bolsonaro’s aides since Brazil’s election, per the Insider, and Steve Bannon recommended contesting the results of the Oct. 30 vote. Like Trump, Bolsonaro has not conceded the election. Brazil’s justice minister tweeted Sunday that reinforcements are on the way to stop the invasion. “This absurd attempt to impose their will by force will not prevail,” said Justice Minister Flavio Dino posted. (Read more Brazil stories.)

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