Currently based in the United States, Brazil’s ex-president Jair Bolsonaro has admitted “some mistakes” during his tenure. According to a video published on Monday, he said in front of supporters: “There were omissions, yes, that’s logical. We made some mistakes.” The video with his explanation was published on the information portal Metropoles.
The far-right former ruler left Brazil on December 30, two days before he was handed over to his left-wing successor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. He narrowly beat Bolsonaro in the presidential elections in October. Bolsonaro never officially acknowledged his electoral defeat.
In the video clip released by Metropoles, his supporters advise Bolsonaro not to return to Brazil. There, the Supreme Court is investigating the ex-president’s role in the violent storming of the presidential palace, Congress and Supreme Court by Bolsonaro supporters on January 8 in Brasilia.
“Incredible”
“I regret what happened there,” Bolsonaro said, calling the events “incredible.” However, even before the election and afterwards, he had systematically fueled doubts about the Brazilian electoral system and warned against electoral fraud.
About 1,200 people were arrested in the course of the outbreak of violence in Brasilia. Their actions have been classified as “terrorist” by the Lula government, which has been in office since January 1st. Bolsonaro had condemned the “devastation” and denied any involvement in the riots.
