Lula ally assaulted ahead of crucial Brazil election (VIDEO)
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's ally, Iara Pimentel, was injured in a violent attack on her campaign vehicle just hours before Sunday's presidential runoff election.
The violent incident occurred late Saturday night in Minas Gerais state, southeastern Brazil, as the country prepared for a crucial presidential runoff between left-wing incumbent Lula and right-wing challenger Flavio Bolsonaro, who is backed by former US President Donald Trump.
Attack Details
Video footage showed bottles, bricks, and other objects being thrown at the campaign vehicle carrying Pimentel, a member of Lula's Workers' Party. She was struck in the face and later seen with blood on her face before being taken to a local hospital by ambulance.
Thinking differently is a right. Political violence is a threat to democracy. No disagreement can justify acts of aggression or put lives at risk.
Election Context
The assault came just hours before polls opened on Sunday, weeks after the first round on October 4 where Lula received just over 45% of votes while Flavio Bolsonaro secured 47%. The election has been marked by tensions and allegations of interference by Meta, which blocked Lula's Facebook advertising account and restricted his Instagram posts.
Lula condemned what he described as multiple incidents of violence during the election, emphasizing that "the most sacred thing in democracy is democratic coexistence in diversity." Meanwhile, Flavio Bolsonaro's father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, is serving a 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup following his 2022 election defeat.
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