National Congress of Brazil

Invasions of the National Congress Building

The National Congress of Brazil has been the focal point of major protests and invasions, reflecting periods of political and social unrest. In June 2013, during the "Jornadas de Junho" (June Journeys), over two million Brazilians protested against public transport fare hikes and government corruption, with demonstrators symbolically occupying the Congress dome in Brasília. On 8 January Brasília attacks, supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro, disputing the 2022 election results, stormed the Congress, Supreme Court, and Presidential Palace, causing extensive damage and drawing international condemnation . In April 2025, approximately 8,000 Indigenous people from 150 ethnic groups gathered in Brasília to protest legislative measures perceived as threats to their land rights. The demonstration escalated when protesters breached security barriers and occupied the lawn in front of the National Congress, leading to police intervention . These events underscore the National Congress's central role in Brazil's democratic processes and its significance as a site of civil activism.