Biden, AMLO and Trudeau condemned the assault on Brazilian Congress

Meeting for the North American Leaders' Summit, Joe Biden, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the riots which took place at the Three Powers Plaza in Brasilia on Sunday, January 8. They also expressed their support for Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who took office as president of Brazil just a week ago.

From Mexico City, the leaders from the United States, Mexico and Canada issued a presidential statement supporting "the Federative Republic of Brazil in safeguarding its democratic institutions."

Biden, AMLO and Trudeau stated that they "look forward to working with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva," who at the time of the attack was in the state of Sao Paulo. Biden added that "the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined."

Madrid Forum on leftist double standards

From Spain, the Madrid Forum reacted to the events that took place around the headquarters of the Brazilian government. In a letter, the international alliance condemned the violence but also questioned the double standard of the left in such instances.

"With what legitimacy can [Colombian President] Gustavo Petro and [Chilean President] Gabriel Boric speak out against the violence in Brazil if they were the main instigators of the vandalism protests in Chile (2018) and Colombia (2021) and even pardoned those responsible?" the letter asks. It added: "How can [Spanish President] Pedro Sánchez show solidarity with Lula if he currently governs with those who tried to besiege the Spanish Congress?"

Furthermore, the Madrid Forum pointed out that if the Sao Paulo Forum, the Puebla Group, the Progressive International and leftist leaders in general want to defend democracy in Brazil, they must first "firmly condemn the dictatorships in Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela."