Emergency Brake And Window Switch

I have a 91 Mercedes 190E, AUTOMATIC WITH A 2.3.
I just bought it and went to set the emergency brake. I can't raise the lever. Is there a trick to this?

Also the right rear window switch on the console didn't work. I bought a new switch and it still don't work. I know it's not the fuse, I checked that first. Any ideas to what that could be?

Thank you for your help in advance.