Three Powers meet in Congress to remember January 8

The leadership of the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary will meet this Monday (8 January 2024) in the Black Room of the National Congress to commemorate 1 year of the January 8th attacks on the headquarters of Power. The ceremony expects around 500 people, will have the national anthem sung by the Minister of Culture, Margareth Menezes, but will be attended by governors and congressmen.

The presidents will be present Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Republic), Rodrigo Pacheco (Senate), Arthur Lira (Chamber) and Roberto Barroso (STF). The tone of the speeches must be one of pacification and unity. Lula, at least, must have a tough line against those involved in the attacks 1 year ago.

The PT member said that his predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro (PL), planned and did not undertake the extremist attacks on January 8, in Brasília. He declared that Bolsonaro “did not accept” the result of the 2022 presidential election.

The president gave interviews to the newspaper The globe and the Brasilia news portal Metropolises in a marketing effort by the PT member and several members of the government and the STF (Supreme Federal Court) on the eve of the event that will remember the 8th of January.

Planalto's idea is to preach unity, but to convey an image of strength and control to make it clear that no similar attempt has a chance of prospering.

The table of honor of authorities will include, in addition to the heads of Power, the first lady Janjathe governor of Rio Grande do Norte, Fátima Bezerra (PT), and the former president of the STF Rosa Weber. Geraldo Alckmin and Lu Alckmin will also be featured prominently.

Guests begin arriving at the Congress at 2pm. Lula's arrival is scheduled for 2:50 pm. At 3pm, the ceremony begins.

Watch below the images of the preparations for the event recorded by the photographer from Power360Sergio Lima (2min7s):

Guests and security

The organization of the ceremony invited all 27 governors, capital mayors and ministers and presidents of higher courts. In addition, deputies, senators, ministers of the TCU (Federal Audit Court) and presidents of legislative assemblies are also expected.

Members of the foreign diplomatic corps, the president of the central bankRobertos Campos Neto, presidents of public banks, presidents of state-owned companies, presidents of trade unions and employer confederations and presidents of regulatory agencies and social movements.

Eight governors will not attend the ceremony. Among them is the head of the most populous state in Brazil: Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans). The heads of the Executive of Rio de Janeiro, Claudio Castro (PL), and Minas Gerais, Romeo Zema (New), they have not yet decided whether they will go. The 3 are allies of the former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL).

Ibaneis Rocha (MDB), governor of the Federal District, will also not go because he is on vacation. Celina Leão, vice-governor, goes in her place. At the time of the acts, Ibaneis was away temporarily from the position of governor by decision of minister Alexandre de Moraes, from STF (Federal Court of Justice). Just over 2 months later, the minister ordered his return to office.

The other heads of state executives who will not attend the ceremony are:

The justifications vary. Cameli will be traveling to China, where she will give a talk. Caiado will undergo review exams of heart surgery. Mendes will have family commitments.

Another 12 governors informed the reporter that they will attend the event. Are they:

Lula's 38 ministers were invited and must go. In a speech at the beginning of the 4th ministerial meeting, on December 20, 2023, the president classified the attacks as a “coup attempt” against democracy. He asked all ministers in his government to participate in the event.

Around 2,000 military police officers from the Federal District will be on hand to help with the security of the Esplanada dos Ministérios during the day. There will also be reinforcement with 250 men from the National Force, as reported on Thursday (4 January) by the interim Minister of Justice and Public Security, Ricardo Cappelli.

The Esplanada will be partially closed from 6am this Monday (8.Jan.2024), with traffic closed from Avenida José Sarney, near Avenida das Bandeiras, to Praça dos Três Poderes, close to Palácio do Planalto , the STF (Supreme Federal Court) and the National Congress.

UNRELEASED PHOTOS

The Chamber of Deputies organized an exhibition with never-before-seen photos of the damage caused by the invaders at the National Congress. The photos were taken by Casa Baixa employees. Some will be displayed in the Chamber's Green Room, which will be open to the public from January 9th to March 29th.

DISAPPROVAL

The acts of vandalism on January 8th are disapproved by 89% of Brazilians, according to a Genial/Quaest survey released this Sunday (7 January 2024). Only 6% say they approve of the attack on the headquarters of the Three Powers. And 4% did not know or chose not to answer. Here's the complete of the research (PDF – 2 MB).

In a previous survey carried out by Quaest, disapproval in relation to January 8 was greater, with 94% of Brazilians, while 4% approved and 2% did not know how to respond.

Among the president's voters Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), 94% say they disapprove of the attacks. Among voters in Jair Bolsonaro(PL), 85% are against and 11% say they are in favor.

The survey also asked respondents whether Bolsonaro had an influence on January 8:

• 47% answered yes:
• 43% answered no;
• 10% did not know how to answer.

COST TO REBUILD

After 1 year of January 8th, the Union has already spent R$ 16,429,516.35 million to rebuild and restore the buildings in Praça dos Três Poderes that were invaded and vandalized by radical Bolsonarists dissatisfied with President Lula's victory.

Public coffers have already paid for the reforms of the STF (Supreme Federal Court), National Congress and Palácio do Planalto. However, some of the historical-artistic pieces have not yet been restored. Some were not even found after the acts.

JUSTICE

Even after 1 year of invasion of the buildings of Praça dos Três Poderesthe STF (Supreme Federal Court) only judged 30 of the approximately 200 denounced for involvement in episode known as “January 8”.

Of those involved in the attacks, 66 remain in prison. Of these, 25 are investigated for financing the acts.

The Supreme Court sentenced the 1st defendant of the 8th of January on September 14, 2023. For having participated in the extremist acts in Brasília, Aécio Lúcio Costa, aged 51, received a 17-year prison sentence. He was convicted of the crimes of:

• violent abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law;
• coup d'etat;
• qualified damage;
• deterioration of listed heritage; It is
• armed criminal association.