Riots in Brazil: Bolsonarism is down but not out

 

Days after President Lula Da Silva is sworn in, a conspiracy-fuelled mob targets the seat of government in Brazil. Plus, the Italian Mafia take to TikTok.

The recent invasion of Brazil’s democratic institutions, days after President Lula da Silva was sworn in, looks like a carbon copy of the January 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol in the United States.

Like MAGA Americans, many of Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters have been radicalised online and, as the Trump-Bolsonaro effect hits Brazil, the country’s issues with misinformation are exposed.

How much mandate should governments have after elections?

 The attack on Brazil’s Congress by supporters of the former president has raised questions about democracy.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has to decide how to handle a threat to democracy after thousands of his predecessor’s supporters stormed the seat of power.

Attacks on democratic institutions have taken place in other countries, too.

1,500 detained in Brazil after right-wing protesters storm Congress

Security forces in Brazil have detained at least 1,500 people after supporters of far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro stormed government buildings in the Brasília. Thousands of demonstrators ransacked the Congress building, presidential palace and Supreme Court. Bolsonaro lost the presidential election to left-wing Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in October 2022. Many of his supporters have refused to accept the result and some have been camping outside army buildings around the country calling for a military intervention to overthrow the government.

Bolsonaro supporters storm Brazilian Congress

 

Brazilian police arrest protesters inside government buildings

From CNN's Marcia Reverdosa and Rodrigo Pedroso

Brazil's Federal District Military Police (PMDF) have begun dispersing pro-Bolsonaro protesters inside Brasília's government buildings, according to a statement from the PMDF.

Those identified as taking part in "acts of vandalism" are being taken to the police station, the PMDF said.

Approximately 30 protesters have been arrested, according to CNN Brasil, which also aired videos showing buses of arrested protesters.

• Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro have broken in to the country's congressional building, Supreme Court and presidential palace, according to Brazilian media.
• Footage showed massive crowds in the capital of Brasília, with some rioters clashing with police. A protester was seen sitting at the desk of the president of Congress.

Brazil election: Social media content crafted for disruption

 

Brazil’s presidential candidates are fighting pitched digital battles ahead of the election. Plus, Nicaragua’s hostile media space.

In Brazil’s upcoming election, President Jair Bolsonaro is not going down without a fight. He has raised the prospect of electoral fraud, used old tricks from his media playbook to spread disinformation, and while the public is more attuned to these dangers now than it was in 2018, there is still a lot at stake.

Voting underway in Brazil election

Brazilians are voting in an election which could see the country switch from a far-right to a left-wing leader. Voting is compulsory for the more than 156 million people eligible. Incumbent Jair Bolsonaro is seeking a second term but faces a challenge from ex-President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Brazil: Battling Bolsonaro’s COVID misinformation

 How leading media outlets in Brazil have joined forces to take on Bolsonaro and his COVID denial. Plus, Wikipedia – the unlikeliest online experiment – turns 20.

Some of Brazil’s biggest media companies have come together to combat COVID-19 misinformation – a lot of which is coming from President Jair Bolsonaro’s office.