Fear gripped Brazil as the looming handover day approached. In the week before January 1, when Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was due to take office, authorities faced reports of a dangerous plan aimed at destabilizing the capital. A truck carrying fuel nearly detonated near Brasilia International Airport, an event that underscored the volatile mood circulating among hardline circles. George Washington de Oliveira Sousa, a businessman linked to the Bolsonaro faction, was apprehended by the Civil Police in Brasilia last Saturday. While not a mere follower, he has been a visible participant in gatherings that supported the former president, and his actions appeared intended to sow chaos and push the country toward a broader crisis. Police commissioner Robson Cândido stated that the objective of the attack was to create chaos, to declare martial law, and to call for a military intervention. His early plans included striking the electricity grid in the capital, but the plan shifted into placing dynamite beside a fuel-laden truck. De Oliveira Sousa has long been associated with the Bolsonaro movement, known as a regular attendee at the far-right gatherings that have gathered outside Army headquarters for weeks, advocating a more confrontational path for their supporters.
According to Folha de S. Paulo, the arrest intensified tensions around the inauguration and added to the atmosphere of anxiety across the nation. Lula’s Labor Party allies and many state officials warned against further acts of terrorism and pressed for cautious restraint from demonstrators who had camped in support of the president-elect. In this context, analysts recalled a nighttime surge of violence observed on December 12, when radical groups set vehicles alight in Brasilia and attempted to seize the Federal Police headquarters. The episode reinforced concerns that the movement could convert political rhetoric into violent action, particularly around the moment of the transition.
De Oliveira Sousa stands as a symbol for a segment of the far right that grew stronger after the 2018 elections. Some supporters view the October vote as compromised by digital ballot manipulation, a claim that has fuelled the belief that civilians should arm themselves for possible confrontation. The man who spoke to authorities about his motive said that the words of the former president, urging citizens to arm themselves, helped push him toward owning weapons. He cited the principle that a free people must never be enslaved as a justification for his choices.
terror incubator
Flavio Dino, the then prospective justice minister, described the events as grave and warned of the damaging impact of extremism within Bolsonaro’s camps. He called the faction an incubator of terror and urged the Attorney General and the National Council of Public Ministries to form special units to counter terrorism and illegal arms. He argued that a state governed by the rule of law could not tolerate political militias, and he urged swift, decisive action to curb violence and lawbreaking. He outlined a plan to broaden monitoring and enforcement measures to prevent the spread of armed extremism, emphasizing that restraint and accountability must guide all responses.
1. The troubling events in Brasilia showed that the patriotic camps could become centers of violent activity. Officials signaled that they would measure the threat and expand protective actions as needed. 2. The presence of weapons and the corruption that can accompany them demanded a careful, principled approach to coping with the security challenges involved.
— Flavio Dino
presidential silence
President Bolsonaro refrained from commenting on the incident for several days after leaving office. Over the weekend, he posted a Christmas message on social networks that included a video of him distributing gifts to children. Public safety officials emphasized patience and stressed that investigations must run their course before any judgments or formal statements are made. The justice minister stressed the importance of awaiting official results and ensuring accountability through established processes.
As the transfer of power approached, observers noted the peculiar timing of the transition. Elaine Gaspari, a long-time columnist, reflected on how the process was drafted years earlier and suggested that parts of the plan might have anticipated a different scene for Lula’s inauguration. The expectation was set for a large, peaceful crowd, even as dissenters watched with skepticism and caution. The atmosphere in Brasilia was charged, with many watching every move for signs of the next phase in Brazil’s political saga. The country faced a pivotal moment, one that would test the resilience of its institutions and the ability of its leaders to navigate a fraught period with calm, lawful governance, and steadfast commitment to democratic norms.