Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court (known in Brazil as TSE) held the ceremony to certificate president-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and vice president-elect Geraldo Alckmin this Monday (12), ending this year’s electoral process.
About 400 guests attended the event, including parliamentarians, superior court ministers and representatives of foreign governments. Former Presidents José Sarney and Dilma Roussef also attended the ceremony. A reinforced security scheme was set up outside the Court’s headquarter to protect the area.
TSE’s president, Minister Alexandre de Moraes, handed the certificates to Lula and Alckmin. After receiving the document from Moraes, the president-elect addressed a speech.
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In his speech, Lula thanked the support he received from allies and voters. “This certificate I received is not a ‘Lula president’ certificate. It’s a certificate for a substantial portion of people who have regained the right to live in a democratic country. This certificate belongs to you,” said Lula. The next Brazilian president got emotional when recalling the prejudice he faced for not having a higher education diploma. However, he was re-elected to the presidency for a third time.
“I wanna say that this is more than the certification of a president-elect: this is a celebration of democracy. A few times in Brazil’s recent history democracy was so threatened. Few times in history have people's will been tested so intensely, having to overcome so many obstacles to finally be heard”.
Antidemocratic acts in Brazil’s capital city
After Lula had received the Electoral Justice certification enabling him to take office on January 1, 2023, and exercise the mandate determined by the democratic elections, Bolsonaro talked with supporters in front of the Alvorada Palace, the official presidential residence.
Then, antidemocratic Bolsonaro supporters attacked the Federal Police headquarter in Brasília while protesting against the arrest of Indigenous leader Sererê Xavante, one of the leaders of the coupist acts in Brazil’s Federal District. He was temporarily detained by the Minister of the Supreme Court Alexandre de Moraes, at the request of the Attorney General's Office for crimes of threat, persecution and violent abolition of the Democratic State of Law.
At least five public transportation buses were set on fire by pro-Bolsonaro vandals in downtown Brasilia on Monday night (12) / Reproduction/CNN
Videos shared on social media platforms show cars and buses on fire in a parking lot near the Federal Police building. After that, the Bolsonaro supporters attempted to go to the hotel where Lula and Alckmin are staying. However, Federal Police security guards prevented it.
“Those responsible will be held accountable”
Senator-elect Flávio Dino (Brazilian Socialist Party, Maranhão state), who will be the next minister of Justice, said those responsible for acts of vandalism against the left-wing politician in Brasília will be held accountable.
“We are here to register what is fundamental. First, accountability measures were already in place. Those [measures] adopted today and which will be adopted tomorrow will continue”, said Dino.
“Absolutely nobody involved in such violent acts won’t be held accountable. That’s for sure. With a calm and prudent approach, respecting the law. All those responsible will be held accountable,” he added.
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Dino also said that Lula’s safety wasn’t threatened. “The president accomplished all his agendas. He received the certificate and returned safely to the hotel where he is calmly resting. There he will stay,” said Passos.
In an interview alongside Dino, the Federal District’s Secretariat of Security Júlio Danilo stated that the country’s Federal District will not tolerate vandalism and will punish the culprits. According to him, such acts will not be tolerated, and people will be identified and held accountable.
Edited by: Flávia Chacon
