Brazil: Lula accuses Bolsonaro of encouraging violent protests

Brazil's President-elect Lula on Tuesday called outgoing head of state Jair Bolsonaro a

and accused him of encouraging violent protests like those that took place Monday night in Brasilia.

, declared Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during a press conference.

,” added the former worker, citing far-right movements in France, Spain, Italy, Hungary or the United States.

Demonstrations “of an anti-democratic nature”

Monday evening, Bolsonarist militants set fire to vehicles and tried to break into the headquarters of the Federal Police after the arrest of one of their own.

The police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrators, some armed with sticks responded by throwing stones.

The demonstrators wanted to obtain by force the release of a Bolsonarist who calls himself an indigenous cacique and who has been placed in pre-trial detention for ten days.

José Acacio Serere Xavante, also an evangelical pastor, is accused by the prosecution of having organized several demonstrations

in the capital, including in front of the hotel where Lula is staying.

Since the defeat of Jair Bolsonaro, some of his supporters of the far-right outgoing president have camped outside barracks in different cities, demanding military intervention against the result of the ballot box.

Lula, 77, who previously governed Brazil from 2003 to 2010, will begin his third term on January 1.

The left-wing president-elect could not hold back his tears as he received certification of his election during a ceremony Monday at the Superior Electoral Court in Brasilia.

During his press conference on Tuesday, he promised to carry out a reform of the tax system from the start of his mandate.

Lula also confirmed the appointment of Aloisio Mercadante, a historic figure of the Workers' Party (PT), as head of the Public Development Bank (BNDES).

Earlier today, singer Margareth Menezes said she agreed to become culture minister, a portfolio that had been relegated to a mere secretariat under Bolsonaro.

She is the first woman and first black person appointed to the new Lula government, following the announcement of five white men as ministers last week.