Lula has ‘full’ UK support says Sunak after storming of Brazil’s Congress

Rishi Sunak joined international condemnation of scenes in Brazil, after thousands of Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters stormed public buildings.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned ‘any attempt to undermine the peaceful transfer of power’ in Brazil (Stefan Rousseau/PA) (PA Wire)

Rishi Sunak has joined international condemnation of scenes in Brazil, after thousands of Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters stormed Congress and other public buildings.

Congress, the Supreme Court and presidential palace were all targeted by the ex-president’s supporters, who refuse to accept his election defeat.

World leaders condemned the demonstrations, which echoed the January 6 insurrection in Washington DC by Donald Trump supporters in 2021.

The Prime Minister said on Twitter: “I condemn any attempt to undermine the peaceful transfer of power and the democratic will of the people of Brazil.”

He said President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has the UK’s “full support”.

“I look forward to building on our countries’ close ties in the years ahead,” he added.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly called the scenes “unjustifiable”.

US President Joe Biden also criticised the incidents, tweeting: “I condemn the assault on democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power in Brazil.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the events a “major concern to all of us, the defenders of democracy”.