Haunted by post-election riot, Brazil’s Lula reins in army

By MAURICIO SAVARESE and CARLA BRIDI
Associated Press

SAO PAULO (AP) — When rioters stormed Brazil’s top government buildings in January to dispute the outcome of the presidential election, many soldiers stood by as far-right protesters broke windows, defecated in offices and destroyed valuable art. The images from Brasilia that day still haunt the left-leaning government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He has strived ever since to ensure that military leaders defend South America’s largest democracy and stay out of politics. The threat isn’t just hypothetical. Brazil has lived through four military coups — the most recent one in 1964, followed by two decades of brutal dictatorship. But Lula’s task is fraught. The military is filled with supporters of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro.