A week is a long time in politics. Just ask Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
On 1 January this year he was greeted by adoring crowds at Brasilia’s presidential palace after being sworn in for a four-year term. Seven days later that same building had been overrun by far-right insurrectionists intent on overthrowing him. The incredible scenes in Brasilia were almost a carbon copy of the Trump insurrection of 6 January 2021, bar a few key details.
First, the North America mob wanted to prevent Joe Biden taking power. In Brazil, Lula was already in office, having replaced Jair Bolsonaro after winning a narrow election victory in October.
Second, hundreds of those who marched on the Brazilian capital were arrested. Lula has vowed to use the full force of the law to bring them and their financial backers to justice.
And most importantly, the Brazilian insurrection was multi-pronged and more serious than the DC version.
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