Maduro blames Bolsonaro for 8/1 and praises the performance of the STF in Brazil

Nicolás Maduro, leader of the Venezuelan government, in a new interview with local television, mentioned President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) and accused former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) of orchestrating the coup attacks of January 8, 2023 while he was in the United States. Maduro also stated that, if in Brazil the higher courts ensured the functioning of democracy, the same should occur in his country.

“In Brazil, there were elections, President Lula won, and then-President Jair Bolsonaro, following a right-wing extremist script, refused to recognize the victory and tried to sabotage the process by contesting the result. The case was taken to Brazil’s highest court of justice, which issued the ruling and confirmed President Lula’s victory. That’s it, I respect Brazil’s institutions,” Maduro began.

He continued: “Afterwards, everyone knows that Bolsonaro went to Miami. And from there, he led the January 8th. He led a coup d’état, an assault. They took organized, trained people. There was complicity from factions of the military-police power in Brasília. And on January 8th, they attacked all of the government buildings in Brazil, including the Palácio do Planalto, which is the presidential palace.”

“They broke, destroyed, attacked… And behind this, Bolsonaro. We condemn this attempt to take power. So, it is really necessary to celebrate the higher courts, the supreme courts and the institutionality of great countries, such as Mexico and Brazil,” he highlighted.

Finally, the Venezuelan president concluded: “They ensured the functioning of democracy. That is how it should be. And if it is like that there, it should be like that here too. Constitution, law, order and justice.”

In recent weeks, relations between Maduro and Lula have been strained by the presidential elections held in Venezuela at the end of July. According to the country’s National Electoral Council (CNE), the current leader won at the polls. However, the opposition is contesting the result and is requesting the presentation of the electoral records.

Lula, like other political leaders, stated that he still does not recognize the victory of the current president and that Maduro “knows that he owes an explanation to Brazilian society and the world.”