On January 8, Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters surrounded the National Congress Building, the Supreme Federal Court, and the Presidential Palace. Avoid these locations in Brasilia as well as any other government structures where there may be clashes between protesters and security officers. On December 24, police in Brasilia discovered an IED close to the airport and captured a suspect who claimed to have planted it in an effort to get the army to intervene and postpone the presidential inauguration. The potential for protests may have an influence on the availability of flights. Read the news, pay attention to local authorities’ directions, and consider our advice.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Lula) has invoked an emergency decree and deployed heavy security to Brasilia to clear protester encampments as of early Jan. 9 in response to the Jan. 8 storming of government buildings by demonstrators supporting former President Jair Bolsonaro. The decree, lasting until Jan. 31, gives the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (Ministerio Publico) greater access to police and military resources to quell demonstrations and secure the capital.

Due to the serious riots, the Embassy recommends Spaniards to avoid the central area of Brasilia this Sunday. There is a consular emergency telephone number for Spaniards in Brasilia: (+55) 61 999610583.

In the upcoming days, increased security and police closures of specific areas of Brasilia are almost certain. In the impacted regions of Brasilia, there will almost certainly be delays in travel and commerce.