Brazil Unrest: 鈥楶olice took too long to respond鈥�
Former Ministry of Justice official says one of the first tasks for Lula is to 鈥榬ecover the capacity to rule the police...to subject the police forces to the will of the state鈥�
Brazil's President has vowed to punish supporters of the country's ex-leader, Jair Bolsonaro, after they stormed Congress, the Supreme Court and surrounded the presidential palace.
Luiz In谩cio Lula da Silva has accused the capital's police force, which reports to a former Bolsonaro ally, of doing little to block the advance of the protesters. He has declared a state of emergency in the city, allowing federal police to manage public security in their place.
Dr Fabio de Sa e Silva is a Professor of Brazilian Studies at the University of Oklahoma and a former official at the Brazilian Ministry of Justice. He told Newsday: 鈥淟ula is correct in many ways鈥he law enforcement agencies in Bras铆lia鈥hey took too long to respond and when they responded, they responded too softly. There are videos on the internet showing policemen almost cooperating with the terrorists, taking photos, helping them walk through the buildings.鈥�
The former president, who is currently in the United States, has denied instigating the unrest. Mr Bolsonaro tweeted that he has always respected the constitution and the rule of law.
(Picture: Supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro raid the National Congress in Bras铆lia, Brazil on 8th January 2023. Credit: Joedson Alves / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images.)
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