Joe Biden condemns ‘attack on democracy’ after Jair Bolsonaro supporters storm Brazilian government buildings

US President Joe Biden condemned an “attack on democracy” in Brazil, calling the destruction and chaos that followed the storming of key government buildings by supporters of former President Jair Bolsanaro “outrageous”.

Leaders around the world have united to condemn shocking developments in the capital, Brasilia, which look eerily similar to scenes in Washington DC that followed after Biden killed Donald Trump in a race for white House defeat two years ago.

According to the BBC, Brazilian security forces have now regained control of Congress, the Supreme Court and the presidential palace, and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has promised to punish the rioters responsible for the damage with the “full law”.

Bolsanaro supporters stormed Brazilian government buildings on Sunday after the far-right leader was defeated by leftist candidate Lula in a tough election at the end of 2022. Lula was sworn in last week but was in Sao Paulo on an official state visit when the protests began.

“I condemn the attack on democracy and the peaceful transfer of power in Brazil. Brazil’s democratic institutions have our full support and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined,” Biden said on Twitter.

Messages in support of Lula’s new government came from China, France, Britain and a large part of South America, among others.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also tweeted that “the use of force to attack democratic institutions is always unacceptable.”

Bolsanaro, who denied Lula the election, is currently in Florida. Some US politicians are calling for his extradition to Brazil. He tweeted that public protests are democratic, but “invading public buildings” has gone too far.

According to local reports, around 3,000 people were involved in the raids, of whom around 300 have been arrested so far.