Brazilian President Lula da Silva this Monday, in his first Christmas message since returning to power, called for “restoring peace” in the country in the face of the “hatred” of the coup plotters who divided the country and tried to overthrow it almost a year ago.
“Democracy emerged victorious and stronger from that sad January 8th. We were able to restore the stained glass windows in record time, but we need to restore peace and unity among friends and family,” the Brazilian head of state said in a broadcast speech. on television, radio and social networks.
Lula da Silva referred to the attack in Brasilia, in which thousands of supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro invaded and destroyed the headquarters of the President of the Republic, Congress and the Federal Supreme Court, with the aim of prompting military intervention to overthrow him a week after taking office.
Brazil’s president said the attack was fueled by the “hatred of some” for the rule of law and left “deep scars”, “divided the country”, “separated families” and “endangered democracy”.
“Fortunately, the attempted coup had the opposite effect: it united all institutions, mobilized political parties over ideologies and caused a rapid reaction from society,” the Brazilian president said.
To date, the Supreme Court has sentenced about twenty of the nearly 2,000 defendants, of whom 66 remain in custody, including those convicted and in pre-trial detention, and the rest are at large.
He also called on Brazilians to “fight fake news, disinformation and hate speech.”
Once again criticizing the leadership of the previous government, Lula da Silva assured that after coming to power, “a real government has appeared in Brazil again.”