Biden calls Brazil's Lula after detractors storm Congress, Supreme Federal Court

President Joe Biden on Monday called Brazilian President Luiz Inácio "Lula" da Silva in the immediate aftermath of a major disturbance in Brasilia during which supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro stormed the Congress and Supreme Federal Court demanding Lula's ouster.

"Biden conveyed the unwavering support of the United States for Brazil's democracy and for the free will of the Brazilian people as expressed in Brazil's recent presidential election, which President Lula won," a joint statement read, according to The Hill.

Lula returned to power in the closest election in Brazil's recent memory. Bolsonaro declined to contest the results and left the country for Florida. He was hospitalized on Monday in connection with injuries he sustained in a 2018 assassination attempt.

Bolsonaro's supporters, however, were less conciliatory toward the new president, asserting that they would not endure the regime of a corrupt criminal. Lula was convicted in 2017 in connection with a major corruption scandal and barred from running in the 2018 contest in which Bolsonaro won the presidency. 

Lula's detractors, over the weekend, forcibly entered various government buildings demanding his ouster. The effort was unsuccessful, however, and authorities estimate that at least 1,500 have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Bolsonaro has condemned his supporters' action, though many Democrats have nonetheless called for his removal from the United States.