Brazil鈥檚 former President and presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks at an election night gathering on the day of the Brazilian presidential election run-off, in Sao Paulo, Brazil October 30, 2022. REUTERS/Carla Carniel
叠谤补蝉铆濒颈补, Brazil聽鈥斅燘razil鈥檚 President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Thursday that rioters who sacked the presidential palace over the weekend likely had inside help.
Lula told reporters he had ordered a 鈥渢horough review鈥� of palace staff after Sunday鈥檚 violent uprising, which saw backers of his far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro storm the presidency, Congress and Supreme Court.
鈥淚 am convinced that the door of the Planalto (presidential) palace was opened for people to enter because there are no broken doors,鈥� he said in Brasilia.
鈥淭his means that someone facilitated their entry,鈥� said Lula, who is dealing with the aftermath of the violent reaction by so-called 鈥渂olsonaristas鈥� to his brand-new presidential term.
The rioters looted offices, destroyed priceless works of art and left graffiti messages calling for a military coup in their wake.
鈥淲e will investigate calmly to see what really happened,鈥� said Lula, who defeated Bolsonaro by a razor-thin margin in an October vote that followed a deeply divisive campaign.
Authorities are seeking to determine who planned and financed the riots for which more than 1,000 people have been arrested.