More than half of Brazilians blame far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro for the attack by radical protesters on the government district in the capital Brasilia.
In a poll released today by the Datafolha research firm, 55 percent of respondents said the former head of state was behind his supporters’ attack on Congress, the government session and the Federal Supreme Court. 39% of respondents said Bolsonaro was not responsible.
invaded government district
Thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed the government district in Brasilia on Sunday. They briefly seized the control centers of the country’s most important state powers, rioted in offices and meeting rooms and left a trail of destruction in their wake. It took hours for the security forces to control the situation.
Bolsonaro lost the runoff to incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in October. However, he repeatedly cast doubt on the electoral system and never expressly admitted his defeat. His radical supporters then blocked roads and called in the armed forces to stage a military coup in Bolsonaro’s favor.
Two days before the end of his term, on New Year’s Eve, the former soldier traveled with his family to the USA. Lula accused his predecessor of inciting his followers. The former president denied the allegations.