Supporters of Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro demonstrate against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, outside Brazil’s National Congress in Brasilia, Brazil, December 8, 2023. REUTERS/Adriano Machado
(Reuters) -Supporters of Brazil's far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro on Sunday invaded the country's Supreme Court and its Congressional building and surrounded the presidential palace in Brasilia. Here are reactions from world leaders:
UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN
"We condemn the attacks on Brazil's Presidency, Congress, and Supreme Court today. Using violence to attack democratic institutions is always unacceptable. We join @lulaoficial in urging an immediate end to these actions."
MEXICAN PRESIDENT ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR
"The coup attempt by the Brazilian conservatives urged on by the leadership of oligarchic power, their spokespersons and fanatics, is reprehensible and undemocratic. Lula is not alone, he has the support of the progressive forces of his country, Mexico, the American continent and the world."
WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR JAKE SULLIVAN
"The United States condemns any effort to undermine democracy in Brazil. President Biden is following the situation closely and our support for Brazil's democratic institutions is unwavering. Brazil's democracy will not be shaken by violence."
ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES SECRETARY GENERAL LUIS ALMAGRO
"We condemn the attack on the institutions in Brasilia, which constitutes a reprehensible action and a direct attack on democracy. These actions are inexcusable and fascist in nature."
EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF JOSEP BORRELL
"Appalled by the acts of violence and illegal occupation of Brasilia's government quarter by violent extremists today. Full support to Lula and his government, to Congress and to the Federal Supreme Court. Brazilian democracy will prevail over violence and extremism."
PORTUGAL'S FOREIGN MINISTER JOAO GOMES CRAVINHO
"Without a doubt, former president Bolsonaro has responsibility. His voice is heard by these anti-democratic demonstrators. It would be very important if he had a message of condemnation in the face of the disorder that is currently happening in Brasilia."
CHILEAN PRESIDENT GABRIEL BORIC
"The Brazilian government has our full support in the face of this cowardly and vile attack on democracy."
COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT GUSTAVO PETRO
"All my solidarity to @LulaOficial and the people of Brazil. Fascism has decided to stage a coup. ... It is urgent for the OAS (Organization of American States) to meet if it wants to continue to live as an institution."
ARGENTINE PRESIDENT ALBERTO FERNANDEZ
"I want to express my rejection of what is happening in Brasilia. Mine and the Argentine people's unconditional support for @LulaOficial in the face of this attempted coup he is facing."
FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON
"The will of the Brazilian people and the democratic institutions must be respected! President @LulaOficial can count on France's unwavering support."
UNITED KINGDOM'S AMBASSADOR TO BRAZIL STEPHANIE AL-QAQ
"We condemn the violent scenes of attacks 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."
VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO
"We categorically reject the violence generated by Bolsonaro's neo-fascist groups which have assaulted Brazil's democratic institutions. Our support for @LulaOficial and the Brazilian people who will surely mobilize in defense of peace and their president."
URUGUAY'S FOREIGN MINISTRY
"Uruguay condemns the episodes of violence against the institutions in Brazil and calls for respect for the rule of law, democracy and its government."
PERU'S FOREIGN MINISTRY
"The government of Peru energetically condemns the assault on the headquarters of congress, the presidency and the supreme court of Brazil and any attempt to disregard the legitimacy of the October 2022 elections. Our solidarity with President Lula and Brazilian democracy."
ECUADOREAN PRESIDENT GUILLERMO LASSO
"I condemn the actions of disrespect and vandalism perpetrated against democratic institutions in Brasilia, they attack democratic order and citizen security. I express my and my government's backing for the legal regime of @LulaOficial."
BOLIVIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY
"We reject the violent actions in recent hours against the democratic institutions of the Federal Republic of Brazil and reiterate our support to our brothers in Brazil and their President Lula da Silva, democratically elected at the polls."
SPANISH PRIME MINISTER PEDRO SANCHEZ
"All my support to President @LulaOficial and to the free and democratically elected institutions of the Brazilian people. We categorically condemn the assault on the Brazilian Congress and make a call for the immediate return to democratic normality."
CUBAN PRESIDENT MIGUEL DIAZ-CANEL
"We energetically condemn the violent and undemocratic acts in Brazil aimed at creating chaos and disrespecting the popular will which resulted in the election of President Lula."
(Compiled by Julia Symmes Cobb and Gabriel Araujo; Editing by Diane Craft, Paul Simao and Daniel Wallis)
