Brazil riots may have strengthened Lula’s hand, say analysts

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: By ransacking government buildings in their fervent opposition to leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil's 8 January 2023, rioters may have strengthened his hand, at least temporarily, analysts say. Many even among the backers of defeated far-right ex-president Jair Bolsonaro were shocked by the pillaging of national heritage buildings and artefacts. Immediately after the storming of the presidency, Congress and Supreme Court, Lula gathered leaders of the three institutions — many of them from the political right — for a unanimous condemnation of the events. Presenting a united front, they affirmed publicly that democracy would…