After storming Congress: What role did Bolsonaro play?

Created: 2023-01-14Updated: 2023-01-14 04:18

What did ex-president Jair Bolsonaro have to do with radical supporters storming Congress?

© Bruna Prado/AP/dpa

It was his supporters who stormed the government district in Brasília: Ex-President Jair Bolsonaro's role in the clashes will now be examined more closely.

Brasília – After radical supporters stormed the government district in the Brazilian capital Brasília, the public prosecutor's office also wants to have ex-President Jair Bolsonaro investigated.

This emerged from a statement from the public prosecutor's office on Friday evening (local time).

The right-wing ex-President Bolsonaro is accused of having posted a video on Monday and deleted it again on Tuesday, in which he questioned the legality of the presidential elections in Brazil in October and thus publicly called for a crime.

Investigations into "intellectual authorship" of the violence

Although the post came after the riots, Bolsonaro's role should be investigated, said Deputy Attorney General Carlos Frederico Santos, according to the statement.

The Supreme Court is already investigating, among other things, the "intellectual authorship" that led to the violence and vandalism in Brasília.

On Sunday, Bolsonaro supporters stormed Congress, the seat of government and the Supreme Court in Brasília, causing extensive damage.

Bolsonaro's successor Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva accused Bolsonaro of inciting his supporters.

The ex-president denied the allegations.

Amid fears of renewed action by radical Bolsonaro supporters, security measures in the Brazilian capital were tightened on Wednesday after calls for a "mega-demonstration to regain power" circulated in all Brazilian capitals.

dpa