Gilmar Mendes, of the Supreme Court, sees Bolsonaro as politically responsible for the invasions in Brasília.
The judge stated that the origin of Sunday's attacks lies in Bolsonaro's actions "inciting aggression against the branches of government, especially the Judiciary."
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes said on Monday that former President Jair Bolsonaro bears political responsibility for not discouraging... Acts of violence that resulted in invasions and vandalism of the headquarters buildings of the Three Branches of Government.which he describes as an attempted coup.
Mendes, the court's senior member, highlighted that authorities will investigate any potential legal liabilities of those involved in the previous day's criminal acts.
"The investigating authorities will look into this and draw their conclusions. There will certainly be messages, certainly breaches of confidentiality, there are a series of communications, and I think the investigations will continue in search of those responsible," Mendes told Reuters when asked about Bolsonaro's possible role in the events.
"I think there are several levels of responsibility, and it's unequivocal that those who have political responsibility, those who have leadership, must act to avoid inciting violence," continued the Supreme Court minister, still questioned about the former president.
On the eve of leaving office, Bolsonaro traveled to Miami, in the United States. Only on Sunday night, via Twitter, did Bolsonaro comment on what had happened hours earlier in Brasília, stating that the invasion and destruction of buildings "are out of the ordinary" and refuting accusations by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva that he had incited the demonstrations.
"Peaceful demonstrations, within the bounds of the law, are part of democracy. However, acts of vandalism and invasions of public buildings, such as those that occurred today, as well as those carried out by the left in 2013 and 2017, are an exception to the rule," Bolsonaro wrote.
Mendes, the longest-serving member of the Supreme Court, stated that the attacks on Sunday stemmed from acts of "aggressiveness" targeting the Supreme Court and the National Congress, including the September 7th protests—acts with slogans against institutions—that were encouraged by Bolsonaro, especially in the last two years.
"Obviously, these were actions that encouraged aggression against the branches of government, especially the Judiciary," the judge stated.
The minister defended the decision of his colleague Alexandre de Moraes to order the removal of the governor of the Federal District, Ibaneis Rocha, for 90 days, and the clearing of the encampment of radical Bolsonaro supporters near the military headquarters in Brasília, in the Urban Military Sector.
"In fact, we are already operating in the repressive phase, but certainly many measures are necessary, such as the one being carried out today to clear the camps," he said.
"I think many of the measures could have already been taken and would have avoided greater liabilities, liabilities for various authorities, and could have prevented this outcome that is so bad for the country's image," he assessed.
For Mendes, who is in Lisbon and returns to Brasília this Tuesday, everything that happened is "very regrettable," but it's "somewhat like a death foretold because this had been brewing and allowed to continue by various authorities that we saw with these encampments."
Back in December, according to a Reuters report, members of the top ranks of the Judiciary considered that there had been a lenient action by the public security forces of the Federal District in containing the acts of vandalism by Bolsonaro supporters on the night of Lula's inauguration by the Superior Electoral Court.
Mendes said that, according to the information he obtained, the offices of the Supreme Court justices were not vandalized. They are located in a building adjacent to the main court building.
However, the judge acknowledged that the Supreme Court will have to work to restore and return to normal functioning after the severe damage to the court's plenary hall. The court will resume work in early February and has already begun an analysis of the damages.
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