EU condemns storming of Brazil’s Congress

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - European Union leaders condemned a raid Sunday by supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on the National Congress.

Hundreds of Bolsonaro supporters stormed the National Congress building while shouting slogans demanding intervention by the army. They broke through a police barrier and entered the Congress building.

Following the reports, European Council President Charles Michel extended his full support for Brazil’s recently elected President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

"My absolute condemnation of the assault on the democratic institutions of Brazil," Michel said on Twitter.

The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, also expressed his full support for Lula, saying that Brazilian democracy will prevail over violence and extremism.

"Appalled by the acts of violence and illegal occupation of Brasilia's government quarter by violent extremists today," Borrell said in a tweet.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez "strongly condemned" what happened in the Congress and called for returning democratic normalcy.

British Ambassador to Brazil Stephanie Al-Qaq also condemned the attack on the country's institutions in a Twitter post that was retweeted by the British Foreign Office.

“We condemn the violent scenes of attack on institutions today in Brasilia. We reaffirm our confidence in the strength of Brazil's democracy and in the smooth functioning of its democratic process.”

Lula was sworn in for a third term as Brazil's president in the capital Brasilia last week.

On Oct. 30, 2022, he beat far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in a tight race, garnering 50.9% of the vote compared with Bolsonaro’s 49.1%, according to Brazil's Supreme Electoral Court.