Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva inspected the presidential palace and the Supreme Court immediately after his return to Brasília, following their storming on Sunday by supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro, according to footage broadcast by the "Globo" channel.

The leftist president, who took office just a week ago, said in a speech he gave in the state of São Paulo that his right-wing extremist predecessor is the one who "encouraged the fascist rioters" to storm the government buildings in Brasília.

The Brazilian president condemned the storming of the "fascist rioters" of the government buildings in Brasília, and issued a decree ordering a "federal intervention" of security forces to restore control over the capital’s security.

What happened in Brasília?

Hundreds of Bolsonaro supporters stormed on Sunday the Congress building, the Supreme Court, and the Planalto presidential palace, a week after Lula was inaugurated as president of the country.

These protesters are protesting the return of da Silva as Brazil’s president last week after he defeated Bolsonaro in the second round of the presidential elections on October 30.

Authorities cordoned off the area surrounding the parliament building in Brasília but hundreds of Bolsonaro supporters who refuse to accept Lula da Silva’s victory in the presidential elections climbed the building and gathered on its roof.

These images are reminiscent of supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump - Bolsonaro’s ally - storming the Capitol building in Washington on January 6, 2021.

Security forces used tear gas but their efforts failed to disperse the demonstrators.

Bolsonaro, who was narrowly defeated by Lula in the second round of the presidential elections on October 30, left Brazil at the end of the year heading to the state of Florida where Trump currently resides.

The events come a week after Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was inaugurated as president of Brazil for the third time, after taking the constitutional oath before Congress in the capital Brasília.

Lula said from Araraquara in the state of São Paulo (southeast): "We will find them all and they will all be punished," stressing that "democracy guarantees freedom of expression, but it also requires respect for institutions."

He added: "What these rioters, these fanatic fascists did... is unprecedented in the history of our country. Those who financed (these protests) will pay the price for these irresponsible and undemocratic acts."

Decree of "Federal Intervention"

The "Federal Intervention" decree issued by Lula enables the state to control the leadership of the security forces which are usually under the responsibility of local authorities.

This decree places all security forces in Brasília under the control of a person appointed by Lula, Ricardo Garcia Capelli, who reports directly to the president and can resort to “any agency, whether civilian or military” to maintain order.