PM Skerrit Condemns Attempted Coup in Brazil
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has joined the chorus of condemnation by world leaders of an attempted coup in Brazil, which occurred earlier this month.
On Sunday, January 8, supporters of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro invaded and vandalized the Supreme Federal Court, the National Congress, and the Planalto Palace, the office of the president.
Speaking during a press conference on Monday, Prime Minister Skerrit said Dominica stands in full solidarity with the government and people of Brazil.
“We are in lock step with the international community, in our unequivocal condemnation of attempts by anti-democratic forces in that country to undermine the will of the people.
“These ongoing efforts to destabilize the government of Brazil shall not stand, and the full extent of the law must be used to bring the perpetrators to justice,” he said, adding that the movement was inspired by antidemocratic leaders and fed by conspiracy theories.
He said this was a grave threat to democracy – not just in Brazil, but throughout the Americas.
“We are beginning to see a metastasizing of such tendencies in many of our nations, big and small, underlying the need for each of us to be vigilant in the defense and protections of our democracies, guided by fully established norms and the rule of law.
“It is unacceptable that some forces in many nations continue to peddle the notion that any election they lose is not proper – even though there is no evidence to support their claims,” the Dominican leader stated.
