Moment hundreds of pro-Bolsonaro protesters humiliated in Brazil

Stunning footage has captured the moment Brazilian protesters thought they had won their push for a military coup – only to be arrested minutes later.

Brazilian protesters hoping to have former president Jair Bolsonaro reinstated have learned a hard lesson from their new government after days of destruction.

Around 1500 Bolsonaro supporters have been arrested en masse following a spree of attacks on government buildings in the country’s capital, Brasilia, over the weekend.

Bizarre footage on social media has emerged, reportedly capturing the moment the Bolsonaro supporters thought their prayers for a military coup had been answered.

Protesters applauded as the Brazilian military entered the grounds of the presidential palace. Picture: Twitter

Troops began moving into the presidential residence, Planalto Palace – which had recently been raided by the protesters – to the cheers of demonstrators who wrongly thought a military coup was under way.

But the troops then turned their attention to dealing with those behind the unrest.

Footage and photos from Monday morning (AEST) show the troops arresting the protesters in the hundreds.

But minutes later, the protesters were arrested. Picture: Twitter

It came after days of violent unrest in the city. Picture: Twitter

Bolsonaristas comemoraram a chegada do Exército nos atos extremistas, mas foram detidos por eles minutos depois

Vídeo: Reprodução
Fotos: Metrópoles pic.twitter.com/z76coN90R3

— Alan Rios (@alanriossr) January 8, 2023

Nation reaches boiling point

Tensions have simmered in the nation since October’s election, when Mr Bolsonaro lost re-election to his left-wing rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva – known as Lula.

The new President was officially sworn into office on January 1 – an event which saw the unrest reach boiling point.

Protesters also stormed the nation’s buildings of Congress, the executive branch and the Supreme Court.

Of the motives behind the protests, Latin America political analyst Brian Winter said: “Many hope that by creating chaos, Brazil’s military will have ‘no choice’ but to intervene.

“Then they will take [the] protesters’ side and ultimately install Bolsonaro again as president. Yep, it’s crazy.”

Supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro clashed with police in recent days. Picture: Evaristo Sa/AFP

He described the events in recent days as a “failed popular coup attempt”.

Lula was not in the presidential palace at the time of the protester’s occupation, nor was Congress or the governmental transition impacted.

The former president himself has made some attempt to distance himself from protests.

“Peaceful demonstrations, in the form of the law, are part of democracy. However, depredations and invasions of public buildings as occurred today, as well as those practised by the left in 2013 and 2017, escape the rule,” he tweeted on Monday.

“Throughout my mandate, I have always been within the four lines of the Constitution, respecting and defending the laws, democracy, transparency and our sacred freedom.”

Mr Bolsonaro, a well-documented ally of former US president Donald Trump, recently flew to Florida – just two days before he was required to leave office. Some analysts claim he did so to avoid possible criminal or electoral investigations.

Jair Bolsonaro is currently in Florida amid suggestions he went there to escape potential criminal investigations. Picture: Evaristo Sa/AFP

According to his wife, the former president is now in hospital.

“My dear ones, I come to inform you that my husband Jair Bolsonaro is under observation at the hospital due to abdominal discomfort resulting from the aftermath of the stab wound he received in 2018 from a former member of the PSOL [Brazil’s Socialism and Liberty Party],” Michelle Bolsonaro posted to Instagram on Tuesday morning (AEST).

“We are praying for his health and for Brazil. God bless us.”

The divisive right-wing leader was put into intensive care for weeks in 2018, the same year he won the presidency, when he was stabbed at a campaign rally.

The suspect was declared psychologically unfit to stand trial.

Bolsonaro blames election defeat on voting flaws

Mr Bolsonaro lost his re-election bid in October when Lula won the vote by almost 11 percentage points.

But during and after his failed 2022 campaign, the ousted leader claimed he had been a victim of a flawed Brazilian voting system.

Brazil’s Supreme Court was among the government buildings stormed and damaged by Bolsonaro’s supporters. Picture: Mauro Pimentel/AFP

On December 12, when Lula’s win was officially certified by the electoral court, a group of demonstrators tried – and failed – to invade the federal police headquarters in Brasilia.

Supporters of the ousted president submitted a legal complaint against the election result to the Supreme Court, though it never saw the light of day.

Brazil’s Supreme Court is now chasing up allegations that Mr Bolsonaro persuaded federal police to protect his family, spread false claims about Brazil’s electoral system, and used his position to perpetuate disinformation.

He will also be investigated for his hand in the recent attacks in the capital.

But the former leader denies any wrongdoing.

“I repudiate the accusations, without evidence, attributed to me by the current head of the executive of Brazil,” he said on Monday.

Brazil’s new President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Picture: Mauro Pimentel

Calls to send Bolsonaro back to Brazil

US lawyer and Democratic politician Joaquin Castro told CNN: “Bolsonaro should not be in Florida.

“The United States should not be a refuge for this authoritarian who has inspired domestic terrorism in Brazil. He should be sent back to Brazil.”

US State Department spokesman Ned Price would not comment on Bolsonaro’s immigration status, according to Al Jazeera.

“If there is a law enforcement matter that needs to be adjudicated between the United States and Brazil, we have well-honed, well-practised processes for doing so. And we’re prepared to do that,” Mr Price said.

On Monday, US President President Joe Biden labelled the protests an “assault on democracy”.

“I condemn the assault on democracy and on 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,” he said.