New year, same old worries
Since the 1990s, presidents in Brazil have taken office on the first day of the new year after winning the election, marking a transition that combines personal and political expectations. In other words, no other year offers Brazilians such a striking change as a post-election year.
One year ago, this sentiment was taken quite literally.
On January 8, 2023, just a week after Lula’s third inauguration as president of Brazil, a massive crowd of angry supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro went to the heart of the capital, Brasília, and attacked several public buildings, including the presidential palace and the headquarters of the Supreme Court. Their main complaint was about the election results that gave Lula a new term in office, which they incorrectly claimed were rigged.
The horrific scenes, which quickly spread around the world, are considered almost unanimously to be the most negative example of political violence in Brazil since the end of the country’s military dictatorship in 1985. In addition to this sad conviction, there is the cost of restoring the stormed buildings, with up to BRL 8 million to be used just to repair the glass structure of the presidential palace.
With all this in mind, Lula has every reason to be (at least) on alert. Despite the fact that many people who participated in the violent episodes have been arrested and prosecuted, and despite the fact that Mr. Bolsonaro is no longer in office, it is worth remembering that the attacks in Brasília took place specifically on January 8, in reference to the deadly 2021 Capitol riots in the U.S., which had occurred on January 6.
The date, therefore, means something to far-right supporters. And as recent years have shown, democracy must remain vigilant.
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