Lula says that intelligence services made mistakes before the riots in Brasilia

The president of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silvasaid on Wednesday that its intelligence services had made mistakes on January 8, when supporters of the far-right ex-president Jair Bolsonaro stormed public buildings Brasilia.

The recent comments come at a time of increasing criticism by Lula of the military for failing to act against Bolsonaro’s supporters when they decided to storm and destroy buildings of the executive, judicial and executive branches.

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“We made an elementary mistake: my intelligence did not exist (that day)”, Lula told the GloboNews television channel in an interview. “We have Army intelligence, Air Force intelligence, ABIN (Brazilian Intelligence Agency), none of them warned me”.

Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro hold a demonstration on the Esplanada dos Ministerios in Brasilia, on January 8, 2023. (Photo by EVARISTO SA / AFP) (EVARISTO SA /)

Lula had previously said that he suspected that there was collusion of “people in the armed forces” on the day of the riots, during which thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded and looted the Congress building, the presidential palace and the Federal Supreme Court.

“I had the impression that it was the beginning of a coup.”, Lula said about the excesses.

Frame capture from the handout of a CCTV video of the Planalto Palace published by the Presidency of Brazil. (BRAZILIAN PRESIDENCY / AFP /)

The president stressed that he would like to maintain civil relations with the Brazilian armed forces, but noted that they should not become politicized. He is scheduled to meet with Army, Navy and Air Force commanders later this week.

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“I don’t want to have problems with the forces, nor they with me. But those who want to get into politics should take off their uniform, resign from office and then go into politics.Lula said.

Earlier this week, the president dismissed more than 50 soldiers who were guarding the presidential residence and the office of the National Security adviser, expressing his mistrust after violent riots in Brasilia.

Source: Elcomercio