the main points
- Brazil experienced an insurrection similar to the US Capitol riots on January 6, 2021.
- It was triggered by allegations of voter fraud from both Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro with familiar allies in both countries.
- While the two events that unfolded bear striking similarities, there were also notable differences.
The overwhelming display of political symbols, color and violence were scenes the world had seen before – almost two years ago – in the United States.
The events that unfolded in the Brazilian capital in recent days immediately resembled the January 6 riots. But while there are eerie similarities between the two events, there are fundamental differences that set them apart.
Allegations of voter fraud and conspiracy against allies
Rather than attend the inauguration ceremony that handed over the presidency to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Bolsonaro ignored the formalities and fled to Florida in the United States.
Trump supporters gathered in the thousands at the US Capitol in defiance of the results of the 2020 election. Source: Washington Post, Getty / Washington Post
Bolsonaro supporters create chaos in Brasilia in an attempted coup with the Three Powers Plaza invasion on January 8, 2023. credit: Futuarina/Ceiba USA
The rhetoric parallels were classic examples of takeover populists, said Deborah Barros Leal Farias, an expert on Brazilian politics from the University of New South Wales.
“There is no denying that Bolsonaro has a political responsibility because he has really pushed these people in this direction… He has made this a kind of war for survival,” she said.
Dr. Farias pointed to Bolsanuro’s son Eduardo, a close friend of former Trump strategist Steve Bannon. Bannon was jailed for four months for helping to help the January 6 riots and is part of Bolsonaro’s inner circle.
Dr Farias said the uncanny similarities between the two countries’ political leaders and their vociferous battle against voter fraud led people to feel “afraid that something terrible was about to happen” after Lula’s narrow election victory.
What’s different?
Dr Farias said Mr Trump was “inciting” his supporters to overturn the election result, encouraging them to “fight like hell” in a speech before the Capitol meeting he organized.
Donald Trump spoke at the ‘Save America’ rally on January 6, 2021 before encouraging his supporters to descend peacefully onto the US Capitol lawn in protest of the loss of the election. Source: Anadolu, Getty / Anadolu Agency
This is in contrast to Brazil, where Lula was sworn in as president on January 1, just over a week before the invasion took place. After Bolsonaro denounced the hooligans on Twitter, he said he was released from a Florida hospital after “new adhesions” on Tuesday.
“From a very legal perspective, what really happened [the protesters] an act? What will they do? “Lola’s boss (already),” said Dr. Farias.
Protesters opposed the outcome of the 2022 Brazilian presidential election that elected Lula within the National Congress. Source: aap / Agive / Kick USA
“It’s a Pyrrhic victory if you want. They went in there and did all that and everyone was looking, but basically it was really against them because now you actually have all three powers saying, ‘This is no good.'”
“There should be concern about these anti-democratic movements because the trend is escalation.”
